Children, Video Games, Violence, and Parental Control - Literature review Example

Children, Video Games, Violence, and Parental Control Children, Video Games, Violence, and Parental Control Introduction Rapid technological changes and the exponential expansion of the video game industry worsen the already tough parenting responsibility. Changes in the industry confer responsibility upon parents of middle age school going children of deciding to approve their children to play video games. According to Ward 2010, parents who allow children to play video games face the challenge of regulating the potential negative impacts. Some of the video games feature violent acts and graphics that that trouble parents because of their immediate and long-term effects. The research will investigate why parents continue to allow their children to play video games despite recent findings that associate the games with violent behaviors among children. The research will demonstrate how a particular category of parents belonging to children at some middle school age allows their children to proceed with these games. The research will also focus on finding out the parents’ feeling about the influence on their children’s behavior. The study will, therefore, give a lot of concentration to middle school age children and groups of their parents. Reasons for Selecting the Topic I have never found it interesting since childhood to play video games. It, however, surprises me to find that children can take the biggest portion of their hours playing video. Consequently, the children end up getting addicted to the video games. What I find devastating is that some of the video games have violent characteristic accompanied with its graphics. It, therefore, is possible that the playing child will have behavioral change after playing it for a long time. Surprisingly, parents still let their children continue playing these video games and assume the detrimental aspects of the game to the well-being of their children. It is, therefore, my biggest concern to find out why my parents would give room to me and my younger to neither play similar video games for longer times nor purchase the violent video games for us. Literature Review Ferguson 2013 raises concern on the Supreme Court stand regarding freedom of speech and the extent to which people can exercise it. The writer disagrees with the court’s decision to give the green light for selling graphical video games that are violent in nature. Horton questions the requirement of the First Amendment that gives freedom to minors to purchase video games that have violent graphics. Horton emphasizes on the need to uphold some of the longstanding laws and traditions that monitor speeches that may expose children without their parents’ consent. According to Ferguson 2013, it is not advisable to leave every American life into the government regulatory and supervisory agencies. Mondale suggests that competition should take a natural course without the interference of the courts. Freedom of speech as expressed in the First Amendment, therefore, will not create harmful freedom to school going children as it is today. According to Horton, video games that existed during the olden days are far much different from those in the industry today. He appreciates the decent cartoon-like images and space invaders that were mainly educative and develop themes of adventure. The writer appreciates the quality that is in today’s movie content of video games. Nonetheless, Horton criticizes the kind of images that such movies use to develop their plays. He mentions death and dismemberment as examples of images that create violent and horrible scenes to children viewing them. The Psychology Professor further wonders why despite young teenagers’ full knowledge of video games is not real; the graphics still affect the teenage passive viewers. Consequently, such passive viewers feel affected in the way they think and act after playing the games. The Psychology Professor, Joseph Horton (2011) cites a case during his childhood that he uses to prove that even video game producers know the danger such videos pose to viewers. He especially singles out those of violent graphics that are not suitable for children viewing. He narrates how the producers forced him to feed his date of birth details into the system before getting access of viewing the material in Modern Warfare 2. The producers proved how aware they are of the inappropriate content to the minors. The Psychology Professor provides a detailed analysis of the likely effects of playing video games on children. Children are likely to involve in shooting activities; auto still cars and become mass murderers due to the exposure into playing violent video games. Violent video games and young people 2010, outline relationship between violent video game to aggressive behavior and cognition among children. Hastings and Karas, in addition, argue that video games have the effect of physiological arousal, an aspect that has the negative aspect on helping human behavior. It is also vital to note that video games are not a negotiable right to children. Parents should therefore firmly set appropriate time limit for such games. Parents can make a tremendous parenting technique to establish an agreement with their children that video game is a privilege. Making it a privilege will mean that children can either earn or lose it at any time (Ward, 2010). Consequently, children will be able to set playtime for their children and spare the rest of the time for other essential activities. Wang suggests that video games must not interfere with school days, but instead extend playtime over the weekends. Horton (2011), however, acknowledges some positive aspects of video games. The psychologist attributes video games to aggressiveness. Video games help in great management of time as research reveals. Children who play video games develop great and better skills as well as proper eye-hand co-ordination. Those who possess multiplayer skills have excellent and exceptional abilities to tutor desirable management skills. Becker-Olsen, & Norberg, (2010) also recognizes the vital role that video games play as a healthy recreational activity for the entire family. The author of the modern parents guide further insists that parent’s involvement is significant in the game to avoid any potential pitfalls that will involve video game and children. As a result, games will become treasured origin of inspiration and excitement. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity for planning and shape a future that is healthy for loved members of the family. Parents who want to achieve the best out of the video games must be careful to confirm game ratings, online resources and parental control and guidance (Ferguson, 2013). In addition, Scott Steinberg adds that house rules, apps, and software programs need thorough and regular monitoring to ensure there are limits of video games and access. Present Study The literature review mainly relied on survey questions to which 10 middle school children parents responded. The survey revealed that almost all children whose parents responded to the questions play at least a video game. However, half of the parents never surveyed follow up to determine the kind of video games their children play. As a result, the parents are never so sure of the kind of games their children play. Out of the half who know the kind of games their children play in the video, two-thirds of the video game players involve in violent games. Survey further reveals that parents only care about the rating of the viewers’ age limit of the games. Parents do not care so much about the material of particular video game they purchase for their children. More revelations of the study show that students spend up to six hours playing the video games. All parents whose children play video games agree to the fact that games their children play contribute immensely to harm that they cause other children of their age or below. Moreover, more than half of the parents interviewed admitted that their middle age schoolchildren could access video games from the comfort of their rooms. However, only a negligible number of two out of ten children who play video games forfeit their sleep for the game. Another shocking revelation of the survey is that a whole seventy percent prefer the video games to go outside to play with their peers. A response that raises concern about the video game to the children is the influence it has on the school going middle age child. The survey shows that playing video games have negative impacts on results of up to eighty percent of children whose parents responded. Furthermore, video games cause trouble to children when advised to give it up for sometimes up to 80 percent, survey shows. In addition, video games occupy children’s mind so significantly such that 70 percent of them find themselves as soon as they arrive home from school. It is also worrying trend that a majority of children sacrifice to forgo food just to play video games. Summary of Results The following table shows summarized findings of the survey carried out to determine patterns, characteristics, and effects of video games on middle school children. Ten (10) parents of the middle school children responded to the survey questions and I summarized the results the table as follows. No Type Of Question Related To Pattern, Behavior And Effects Of Video Games Yes No 1 Does your child play video games? 10 0 2 Do you know the game your child is playing 5 5 3 Are the games violent? 6 4 4 Do you know the rating of your child video games? 6 4 5 Which game do you allow your child to play? 6 went for age rating and 4 any rating 6 4 6 Do you believe your child will be aggressive from playing these games? 0 10 7 How many hours a day does your child play games more than 5 or less? 6,5,4 less 8 Does the game your child play give points for doing harm to others? 10 0 9 Does your child have access to these games in their rooms 5 5 10 Does your child avoids sleep to play video games and is tired in the morning? 8 2 11 Would child refuse to go out and play with friends to play their games alone? 7 3 12 Have you noticed a decline in your child’s grade since they began playing video games? 8 2 13 Does your child participate in any physical activities? 5 5 14 Would your child have trouble giving up video games for one week? 8 2 15 Does your child immediately play their games when they get home? 7 3 16 Does your child eat meals while playing games? 4 6 Conclusion Based on the survey results shown above, it is evident that video games are not only detrimental to children’s social behavior, but also in their academic performance in school. Recommendations by Violent video games and young people (2010), that parental guidance and house rules govern the game are vital to controlling behavior and prevent such games from going viral. The role of playing in the family institution among children must also take its position. Parents should ensure full participation in monitoring the contents, ratings and effects of the games. References Becker-Olsen, K. L., & Norberg, P. A. (2010). CAUTION, ANIMATED VIOLENCE. Journal Of Advertising, 39(4), 83-94. doi:10.2753/JOA0091-3367390406 Ferguson, C. J. (2013). Violent Video Games and the Supreme Court: Lessons for the Scientific Community in the Wake of Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association. American Psychologist, 68(2), 57-74. doi:10.1037/a0030597 Horton, J. J. (2011). A Free Challenges for Parents. The Humanist. Grove City Violent video games and young people. (2010). Harvard Mental Health Letter, 27(4), 1-3. Ward, M. R. (2010). Video Games and Adolescent Fighting. Journal Of Law & Economics, 53(3), 611-628 Read More