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Research on the Effects of Violent Video Games: A Critical Analysis
Article first published online: 1 APR 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00175.x
© 2009 The Author. Journal Compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Additional Information
How to Cite
Ferguson, C. J. (2009), Research on the Effects of Violent Video Games: A Critical Analysis. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 3: 351–364. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00175.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 27 MAY 2009
- Article first published online: 1 APR 2009
- Social and Personality Psychology Compass 3/3 (2009): 351–364, 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00175.x
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Abstract
The impact of violent video games on youth and adults who play these games has been a source of great controversy for years. This paper reviews the research on violent video games across three main areas: general effects on aggression, negative effects on specific high-risk populations, and effects on visuospatial cognition. Difficulties in adequately measuring constructs such as aggression are also highlighted. It is concluded that the extreme focus on general aggression effects is not supported by the current literature, and that social science's focus on general aggression effects distracts from research on specific at-risk populations, and potential positive uses of some violent video games.