Response letter for article Video Game Violence by Mark and Keisha Hoerrner - Essay Example

Affiliation Video Game Violence: A Response Letter It is no doubt that video games can have a positive impact on the overall development of a child. However, as a parent, purchasing a violent video game for your child requires careful consideration. After reading the article by Mark and Keisha Hoerrner, it is clear that violent video games can contribute to real-life violent behavior among the children. Being the parent, it is important to remember that your child is continuously learning, and therefore the contents of the video game will become the learning materials (Whitaker & Bushman, 2009).

As noted in the article by Mark and Keisha Hoerrner (2006), video games teach children how to use weapons and become sharp shooters. For this reason, it is necessary to consider the skills the game is trying to teach your child. If the game emphasizes on shooting, killing, robbery and other antisocial behaviors, it may not be a good idea to purchase it. Video games reward their players for various behaviors. In most violent video games, behaviors such as shooting and killing are highly rewarded with points (Anderson& Warburton, 2012).

As your child continues to play these games, he is encouraged to do more of the killings and shootings in order to earn more points (Hoerrner & Hoerrner, 2006). These activities, although violent in nature, attract the biggest rewards. Since your child is still developing, it is likely that he will grow up cherishing violence. Therefore, the video game you purchase for your child will make him gravitate towards negative social action over time. Because video games increase the child’s appetite for violence, he is likely to want more of this entertainment as he grows; both in real life and in the gaming world (Gentile & Anderson, 2003).

These games train children to view the world as a dangerous place in which they have to constantly look for enemies and other threats. Unfortunately, the only way of dealing with such threats, as promoted in these games, is through violence (Giumetti & Markey, 2007). Because of the link between video games and violent behavior, it is important for you as a parent to understand the ratings given to the various games. In the article by Mark and Keisha Hoerrner (2006), it is noted that it is the responsibility of parents and society to understand what is being told in these video games.

Before making the purchase, it is necessary to check the ratings of the game you intend to buy. This will help in purchasing a video game that is appropriate to the level and age of the child. In these games, elements such as sex, reference to drugs and nudity are included in their development. If it is necessary to purchase the game, it is the responsibility of the parent to safeguard his child against such content. In the end, it will prove beneficial to purchase an alternative game such as the flight simulator game that is devoid of violence.

In the article by Mark and Keisha Hoerrner (2006), it is shown that this game helped the player apply the skills in a NASA summer camp. In conclusion, it is obvious that violent video games have both long term and short term effectives on the behavior of the players. Before purchasing such games, a parent has to understand the nature of activities and behaviors encouraged. Unfortunately, since players are rewarded for antisocial behaviors, they tend to grow up cherishing the same. It may therefore not be good idea to purchase a violent video game for your child.

Alternative video games could prove beneficial. ReferencesAnderson, C., & Warburton, W. (2012). The impact of violent video games: An overview. In W. Warburton & D. Braunstein, Growing Up Fast and Furious: Reviewing the Impacts of Violent and Sexualised Media on Children (1st ed., pp. 56-84). Annandale, NSW, Australia: The Federation Press.Gentile, D., & Anderson, C. (2003). Violent Video Games: The Newest Media Violence Hazard. In D. Gentile, Media Violence and Children: A Complete Guide for Parents and Professionals (1st ed., pp. 131-152).

Greenwood Publishing Group.Giumetti, G., & Markey, P. (2007). Violent video games and anger as predictors of aggression. Journal Of Research In Personality, 41(6), 1234-1243. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2007.02.005Hoerrner, M., & Hoerrner, K. (2006). Video Game Violence. Childrens Voice, 15(1), 12-18Whitaker, J., & Bushman, B. (2009). A Review of the Effects of Violent Video Games on Children and Adolescents. Washington And Lee Law Review, 66, 1033-1051.