Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Do we really need R18+ computer games?

By Barbara Biggins - posted Tuesday, 16 February 2010


So the balance between child protection and adult freedom has not been achieved with these formats. Why then, would we want to compound parents’ problems by adding in R18+ games? Responsible parenting needs the whole community’s support.

Third, we must take note of the many who are already concerned about the impact of the strong violence found in MA15+ games. Again the classification system requires that we take note of community concerns about young people’s access to “depictions that condone or incite to violence”.

And can playing violent games cause harm? There are now reliable indicators from research reviews (which now include longitudinal studies) that playing (and being rewarded for being the best at it), rather than watching, is more influential; that gamers can become desensitised to the use of violence by repeated exposure; that players of games where violence is glamorised risk more hostile thoughts and feelings, and display more aggressive behaviours.

Advertisement

Long time video game researcher Craig Anderson with seven other cross-national researchers sum up their latest meta-analytic review of the video game research studies, with:

The pattern of results for different outcomes and research designs (experimental, cross-sectional, longitudinal) fit theoretical predictions well. The evidence strongly suggests that exposure to violent video games is a causal risk factor for increased aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, and aggressive affect and for decreased empathy and prosocial behavior.

It is not surprising that when the game involves rehearsing aggressive and violent thoughts and actions, such deep game involvement results in antisocial effects on the player … (Anderson, CA et al, Psychological Bulletin, in press)

So there are many issues of concern to consider. We need more informed responses than have been so far evident whenever anyone dares to stand up for the rights of children on this issue. The outcome has almost always been a stream of abuse from angry, aggressive, abusive (and frequently anonymous) gamers.

I want to encourage Australian parents, educators and children’s professionals and educators to be actively involved in a full debate on the issues.

As Anderson et al point out: “Video games are neither inherently good nor inherently bad. But people learn. And content matters.”

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All

Further information about participating in the review can be found here: www.ag.gov.au/gamesclassification. Further information about the issues can be found here: www.childrenandmedia.org.au.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

32 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Barbara Biggins OAM, is the Hon CEO of Australian Council on Children and the Media. The ACCM is a not-for-profit national community organisation whose mission is to support families, industry and decision makers in building and maintaining a media environment that fosters the health, safety and wellbeing of Australian children. Its patrons are Baroness Susan Greenfield and Steve Biddulph. Barbara also served as the Convenor of the federal Classification Review Board 1994-2001.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Barbara Biggins

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 32 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy