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Study: Games have no relation to crime rate
Author: Joe MartinPublished: 26th January 2009
A new study undertaken by Texas University shows there is no connection between crime and video games.
Ferguson produced the study in an attempt to seriously tackle once and for all the bogus notion that computer games like Grand Theft Auto can encourage criminal behaviour. Specifically Ferguson was looking at mass shooting such as the Columbine massacre, which was linked to both Doom and Grand Theft Auto by some people.
The study, which was published in Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling magazine (Via Gamepolitics), sifts through more than a decades worth of statistics and reports to come to the conclusion that there is no link between violent games and violent crimes. This coincides nicely with a similar study that proved that violent games aren't particularly appealing to players.
Ferguson instead comes to the conclusion that video games are instead bought into the situation only as part of the moral panic which follows such awful events - something which is then fanned by the media and researchers looking for new topics, as always.
"It has been observed that a small group of researchers have been most vocal in promoting the anti-game message, oftentimes ignoring research from other researchers, or failing to disclose problems with their own research," said Ferguson.
"As some researchers have staked their professional reputation on anti-game activism, it may be difficult for these researchers to maintain scientific objectivity regarding the subject of their study. Similarly, it may be argued that granting agencies are more likely to provide grant money when a potential problem is identified, rather than for studying a topic with the possibility that the outcome may reveal that there is nothing to worry about."
The interesting thing about moral panics though is that their very nature puts everyone involved at fault for perpetuating them and remembering them in the future. Share your thoughts in the forums.
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Unfortunately it is necessary to prove idiots who spout nonsense wrong, especially when politicians and people in power listen to them or are spouting it themselves.
This report studies one phenomenon: mass shootings. Mass shootings are conducted by psychology types that are not representative of more ordinary crime. So this is just one piece in the puzzle. It is not true, as the article title says, that the study shows "Games have no [causative] relation to crime rate".
I don't know the answer to this question but what I do know is it's not obvious in advance; you have to very difficult statistics to identify or rule out causation. Thinking the answer is obvious in advance is incompatible with the scientific spirit.
it's not the media in itself that causes the behaviour or even influences it.
there's a certain type of character that commits these type of actions, these specific characters are often drawn to violent music, games, etc. it's more a reflection of their own issues that they seek these releases than evidence that these media's cause their corrupted personality
I'd give the media a call for their bias ways of twisting the facts and poisoning the minds of their viewers.
I think that was Barney's purpose. To annoy us into pacifism :D
Well said. I don't see how most of you above can claim "well obviously" - do any of you have the slightest understanding of psychology, sociology or criminology?
PS: proxess, is that a Refused reference?
PS: proxess, is that a Refused reference?[/QUOTE]
I do. I gave a speech on this very thing to a concerned group of people. The problem with topics of concern like these is that people want to categorize everyone. Black and White Bad and Good for people. I don't have a lot of time to type. But children under age for games can get a warped view of "reality and consequence" playing violent/gory/demonic games. Mentally healthy adults/Teens can separate reality from fiction and have no effect. (Bad)Example porn. I don't think any healthy person expects sex from a pizza delivery. A mentally unstable person might think that happens.
People that commit crimes or will commit crimes later in years are not stemmed from the use of video games, though they may use them to let out anger or frustration or validation that its alright to commit that crime or,....its just a fun game. Thinking things like "People that play this game here, only wish they could do what I do everyday."
Crime comes from Neglect. Thats a broad definition but people that are neglected in many different forms lead a life of crime.