Why video games are violent - Essay Example

Why Video Games are Violent Video games being violent is not a new concept in modern day society, as the two seem to share an intimate relationship forcing them to be interdependent. Debate on the consequence of playing violent video games has raged for a long time, but this time the question is on why video games are violent. In order to answer this question, there are different angles from which the issue can be observed indicating the difference levels of the presence and absence of violence in video games.

Video games are violent because they offer an alternative form through which one can “…absolve themselves of guilt or justify certain morally questionable acts…” whereby video game players can release their inner feelings of violence that cannot be directed towards other people in the real world (Schaffer). With this in mind, video games are violent because they are virtual worlds in which there are no consequences for engaging in whatever violent acts that one pleases (Videogame Addiction).

Therefore, video games are violent to provide a safe proving ground in which violent behavior can be virtualized and enacted in a safe manner that cannot harm anyone, the player included. Arguments are that this is the main reason to rid real life situations of potential acts of violence that may lead to severe consequences such as death (Schaffer). The virtual environment therefore creates a carefree environment, in which anything goes without condemnation or harm. The other common reason as to why video games are violent is that people are generally violent in nature making it crucial to provide that which seek, but only in a controlled environment (Yenigun).

With this in mind, it is said that violence is intriguing and the rush that comes with violence should be experienced in order for an individual to have lived a full and fulfilled life. Thus, video games are created to fit their part and play a crucial role in society, where they are violent because there is demand (Yenigun). This demand is the driving force for the violence in videogames based on evidence and speculation. As such, the question is whether the people who are fans of these games have high tendencies to being violent that draw them to violent games and should they address the problem (Videogame Addiction).

As a result, the source of violence is conflicting in video games, but evidence points to video games being violent. This is because “Violence provides thrills that we're hard-wired to enjoy, and video games offer an immersive experience that we're hard-wired to crave” (Video game addict). In addition, games containing violence are ruled to be morally better than having to practice one’s violent behavior out in the real world, where in the video games, they are made violent to prove a point.

The point being that morality is the way to go as good must always conquer evil, which is taught and reinforced by violence in video games, where players make a “… decision to make a good choice over an evil choice…” (Schaffer). Consequently, these video games are taken to be violent for having qualities that redeem society by quelling evil in a safe environment. This creates a highly moral society thus the need for video game makers to incorporate violence to show the reign of good over evil (Schaffer).

In conclusion, reasons as to why video games are violent are based on speculation and are pointed towards demand, safety and social morals. As such, video games are made violent to cater for the needs of the society in relation to creating the perfect environment to exercise one’s violence in a way that engages the player morally to overcome evil due to the demand for violence and the violent nature of man. Works Cited Shafer, Daniel M. Moral Choice in Video Games: An Exploratory Study.Media Psychology Review. (2012). Vol. 5(1) Yenigun, Sami.

Video Game Violence: Why Do We Like It, And What's It Doing To Us?. NPR. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2013.< http://www.npr.org/2013/02/11/171698919/video-game-violence-why-do-we-like-it-and-whats-it-doing-to-us> Video Game Addiction . Violence and Video Games. n.d.Web. 30 Mar. 2013.