Some Video Games May Make Kids Less Tolerant of Aggression

September 13, 2005 - 10:18am

Nathan Hager, WTOP Radio

WASHINGTON - Violent video games have long been an easy target for politicians who are interested in protecting children. But not all violence may be created equal.

"Specific forms of violent content may be OK and we might even bother to encourage them," says George Mason University's Evan Rosenfield, who surveyed nearly 400 elementary school students.

He found that games with a lot of kicking and punching -- as opposed to shooting and killing -- might make kids less tolerant of aggression.

The children who played the punching and kicking games were more likely to break up fights when they saw them on the playground, he said.

Rosenfield says game makers should specify the type of violence that's in their games when they set ratings for them.

Nathan Hager, WTOP Radio

WASHINGTON - Violent video games have long been an easy target for politicians who are interested in protecting children. But not all violence may be created equal.

"Specific forms of violent content may be OK and we might even bother to encourage them," says George Mason University's Evan Rosenfield, who surveyed nearly 400 elementary school students.

He found that games with a lot of kicking and punching -- as opposed to shooting and killing -- might make kids less tolerant of aggression.

The children who played the punching and kicking games were more likely to break up fights when they saw them on the playground, he said.

Rosenfield says game makers should specify the type of violence that's in their games when they set ratings for them.

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