Effect of Video Game Violence on Playing with Real Guns

Playing a violent video game, especially a version featuring guns, increased children's aggressive play with real, disarmed 9-mm handguns.

Due to the serious problem of children being injured or killed with guns in the home, concern over the possible contribution of violent video games to these tragedies has increased. To examine this relationship, researchers randomized 242 children aged 8–12 years (mean age, 10 years) to play one of three 20-minute versions of the video game Minecraft (nonviolent, violent with swords, and violent with guns). They then observed the children as they played with toys in a room that also held real, disarmed 9-mm handguns, recording whether and how they played with the guns.

Among the 220 participants (91%) who found a handgun, 120 (55%) touched it (a quarter of these children also informed an adult), and 39% pulled the trigger at least once. Thos…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Effect of Video Game Violence on Playing with Real Guns

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Reviewing Author