March 2, 2008 -
Gamers and parents of gamers will likely find Dr. Cheryl Olson's new book reassuring.The Massachusetts General Hospital researcher contradicts much of the standard research on video game violence, offering a real-world approach based on studies of real children. With Grand Theft Childhood (co-authored with Dr. Laurence Kutner) set to release in April, Olson spoke with GameCouch's Terry Bosky:
From the start, our research was designed with parents in mind... we wanted to help parents and policymakers understand what’s normal, when to worry about violent video games, and when video games might benefit some kids.
Olson believes that some of the best-known studies have serious flaws:
The most-publicized studies came from a small group of experimental psychologists, studying college students playing nonviolent or violent games for 15 minutes. It’s debatable whether those studies are relevant to real children, playing self-selected games for their own reasons...
Also, the most-published researchers have built their careers around media violence... [that is] just a small part of what we do, so we could look at the issue with fresh eyes and no agenda.
Olson found that games helped 12-14's sort out their feelings:
This included playing games to “help get my anger out,” to forget problems, to relax, and to feel less lonely... When we began our research, we didn’t fully grasp how politicized and emotional this topic was.
What about the upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV ?
One of the most surprising things in our research was how many kids aged 12 to 14 are playing Grand Theft Auto games; the series was #1 among boys, and #2 among girls. So, parents can assume that their teens will play GTA IV sometime, someplace...
We found is that most children who play GTA don’t see the characters as role models, and don’t see the game as like real life. In fact, the “unreality” is one thing they like about the series. They can test boundaries and try things that, as one boy put it, “hopefully, will never happen to you.
Don't miss the full interview at GameCouch.
Comments
sounds like a soft sobbing sound... oh sorry Jack didn't see you there. :P (so that's what that is...)
Looks like a 42 year old nutcase opened fire in a wendys. I wonder what video games he played. Because only people who play video games do these sorts of things.
"This was a triumph
I'm making a note here
HUGE SUCESS!!!
It's hard to contain my satisfaction."
Barack Obama is anti-games?? I never knew that!
His comments suggest he equates videogames with a waste of time and considers them of no viable benefit, but that appears to be sheer ignorance.
He may be biased against videogames simply because of politicians' and others' mistaken spins on videogames, but we can't actually be sure of the degree of his lack of respect for this passtime. So far, he hasn't spouted that ignorance as cause for a federal case against games based on no facts or scientific support, as have the other 2 names in vasudean's list.
Fuck yeah, I want Jack to know this. We don't need moral approval from anybody in this industry. Everytime I load up my copy of Grand Theft Auto San Andreas the veins on my rigid cock contort that much more.
Grand Theft Auto 4 is gonna own SOULS! GTA 4 is bigger than Jesus!
Hell the MAC is bigger than jesus nowdays...
If I read Obama's transcript correctly, the point being made was that parents should try to encourage their kids to go out more and do something healthier like sports and the fine arts, rather than just allow them to sit all day watching TV or playing video games.
If I read that properly, I don't have any problems with it, as a gamer even.
That's exactly it. Obama wasn't saying kids shouldn't be playing video games or watching T.V. at all, but parents should only allow them to play video games and watch T.V. in moderation rather then them sitting inside all day and getting no exercise. Obama has also said for the most part he's against government regulation of Free Speech. Much better then Hillary "here comes the nanny-state" Clinton.