October 20, 2007
Aggression, violence, brain scans...Such is the stuff with which video game research concerns itself these days. But a University of Montreal professor holds that aggression is genetic, not a by-product of violent media.
As reported in Scientific American, Richard Tremblay, a professor of pediatrics, psychiatry and psychology said:
It's a natural behavior and it's surprising that the idea that children and adolescents learn aggression from the media is still relevant... Clearly youth were violent before television appeared.
Searching for the roots of physical aggression, Tremblay has tracked 35,000 Canadian children for more than 20 years. He presented his findings earlier this week in London at a meeting of The Royal Society, the U.K.'s academy of science.
A genetically-rooted lack of social skills causes aggression in children and adolescents, he believes:
We're looking at to what extent the chronically aggressive individuals show differences in terms of gene expressions compared to those on the normal trajectory. The individuals that are chronically aggressive have… more genes that are not expressed. [This] is an indication that the problem is at a very basic level.
In the long studies we've been doing, we've measured a number of characteristics during pregnancy and after birth that are good predictors.
Tremblay's work has identified maternal factors that might negatively impact the neurobiological development of the fetus, including smoking, drinking, poor nutrition and excessive stress. The researcher believes that children who have impaired communciation or social interaction skills are more prone to violence and aggressive behavior:
When you don't master language, it's hard to get people to understand what you want.
Comments
Joseph McCarthy was a US Senator in the 1950's who was basically responsible for demonizing Communism and Communists as evil and godless. Hit up Wikipedia or other encyclopedias for information, look for Joseph McCarthy, McCarthyism, the Hollywood Ten, and I think the Red Scare fits into that as well.
Read and be enlightened, fellow GP'er.
You're taking my statement too seriously. They didn't 'cut him off,' they just got the idea that he's a nut (finally) and stopped the conversation.
If he does, here's hoping bookstores will clear out all those unsold copies of 'Out of Harm's Way' (to the recycle bin) to make room for it. ;)
It's a better world, no matter how some people would prefer to think of it. The good old days weren't always good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems.
/sarcasm.
It's about dawn time!
I've been lucky that I was able to get specialized help in this area (and others of concern). I got into video games before I got therapy and I have to say that I understand about the frustration. I got help before it could have gotten really bad for me (diagnosed with ADHD/Depression). My parents had to lobby very hard for me to get into the special ed programs and it is still just as hard today to get your children into them. I think it was especially hard for me because I didn't act out extremely and I tested as quite smart. ;)
If you ever ask a special ed teacher about how bad their budget is, well: They. Won't. Shut. Up. All us kids knew that the budget for our program was bad.
Tangent aside, what the pols should be working on is increasing funding for programs for troubled/disabled youths instead of pissing it away on grossly unconstitutional "feel good" bills. The bastards should pay out of pocket the legal fees for such bad laws.
Oh, and dugg.
The research certainly shows a genetic factor in determining the potential for responding more or less aggressively to the complex concert of factors that occur when someone is exposed to any stimuli.
While I still remain wary of studies in general, the long study period with a large study group is pretty interesting.
It is a good study on one of the many causes, genetic, of how much aggression or lack thereof that an individual may display.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
So am I and I always sayt it. I don't know where Tremlbay is based, do you know if he is from McGill University or from UQAM?
Long term, observational studies. Not some quack brain scan handed to you 5 minutes before going on live tv :) Or brain scans that show that children's brains work differently (who would have guessed), but do not show that this is detrimental. Actual, meaningful study, as opposed to emotion and opinion driven statements.
This seems like a study that any and all anti-video game legislation proponents should read and consider before they put forward another unconstitutional and unenforcable waste of taxpayers money. Although, to the politicians and agenda driven people, they could not care less about anything that would undermine their position.
It's good to see such optimism for the future.
....
Please share it with the class. Some of us could use the Optimism Boost Points.
:)
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Good to see you back in circulation. Seems you rest was good for you and your opinions
@DCOW
If JBT posts on this thread (seems unlikely) I would give long odds he will claim just that. We gamers are not Allowed to have anyone on our side is not is corrupted by games themselves
@ nightwng200
Yep you have been consistant in your arguement on that point, have to respect you for that (if nothing else). But whats with the points system? Point games are so 1990's :)
@ GP
Today methinks is a good day to be a gamer. Even Dennis seems to be in a cheerful mood for once ;)
For myself I am glad to hear a professional going public to state the same things I have said over and again. May have to make this on my calendar.
Prof. Tremblay is based at Universite de Montreal.
http://www.psy.umontreal.ca/employes/TREMBLAYRichardE.html
Violence came before video games anyways. Sports had its moments (look at Hockey as a good example) I'm sure. Some of us grew up watching war and black freedom movement films in school. It amazes me to see that people are shocked that violence still exists.
I'm glad there are researchers think outside the box.
Glad to see you up and about. Keep up the good work.
I love this study. Long term, lots of subjects and no agenda. The best kinds.
Expect JT to come in and claim this guy to be an industry shill.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
/ end sarcasm
Anyway, 20 years. I'd like to see JT disprove that one (and he will probably try. Leftist conspiracy, anyone?).
"The good old days weren’t always good and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems."
Did you learn stickball as a formal education? =)
He probably will claim he's a shill, but I think it's more likely given JT's bigotry that since the entire study was conducted in Canada, and the kids and Tremblay himself are Canadian, unless it took place in the U.S. and was applied to American kids, it doesn't count. He'll probably also make some sort of disparaging remark about Canada and a geographical error while he's at it. :P
"The good old days weren't always good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems."
Yeah, as an sponge for history, I've seen this trend in the past before. People are convinced that it's the end of days because of some event or another and usually give up their liberties to see the problem fixed, whether it's to a king or a politician. Of course, we later came to regret those decisions (re: The French Revolution),but it's still sad. And now we are seeing it on two fronts: "Moral reform"groups trying to take freedom of speech, and leaders using the fear of terrorism to do away with the rest.
At least we can rest knowing that there are wise people to protest these short-sighted actions, however few they may be. ;)
He will insult this mans reputation and come off sounding like he is cherry picking studies for his own agenda. What thompson doesnt realise because he knows dick-squat about psychology is that with its large sample size and lengthy time period alone this study exudes more credibility than any one he's mentioned so far.
WAAAAGGHH!!!
Thank you for reminding critics of this industry of obvious emperical evidence.
Seriously, what do you think kids are going to do in a country where schools lack disipline and guns are practically laying around just about everywhere?
Poverty + Poor Parenting + Tons of Guns + No Disipline in Schools = Trouble
The true variables involved here.
Oh, the sweet sound of common sense. There's been so little of it recently. We gamers have been saying much the same thing for how many years now?
Que JT's Brain Dead Bullshit in 3....2....
Kent Brockman: "And this was before cartoons were invented? Fascinating!"
I agree. At the end of lion king you see the shadow of Scar being eaten alive by 3 hyena's. That and Disney's orphan fetish. Either the parents are dead, one is dead, or one/both will die soon.
Of course, youth violence were more serious 20 years ago. It has always existed.
The fact that it is a long term study, on a great number of persons reinforce it's credibility.
One final though: I do hope that JT won't comment to fuel another of Pandraslik's anti-christian rant, and I dislike them more than everything JT will ever say.
I don't doubt that JT will try to claim that this guy is an "industry apologist"
he does that with everyone who disagrees with him.
oh. and great headline GP.
Clearly, he is some kind of industry apologist or something, because everybody knows that the world was a great, kind place until TV and video games started getting popular.
Also, I'm glad to see you up and about, GamerDad! Keep up the great work!
everyone knows that violence didn't exist until Pong was created. it retroactively caused all wars known to man.
Never..? I swear, we've been saying that for so long and finally someone else realises it..
Jack Thompson: "Oh crap!. I got a good ideal. '
Jack:(begins to build a time machine)
Jack: "I know what to do now" (Jack travels back to the 1860's)
(Jack attempts to ban "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn" from public libarys and fails)
Seeing pointless violence makes your hair curl? That explains a few things..