Study: Violent video games may affect children's moral development

By Staff Writer

A new study that appears in the Journal of Children and Media warns parents that video games can have a dangerous effect on children.

The report, which was written by a professor from Simmons College, examined the impact of violent video games on the development of moral reasoning among children between 7 and 15 years old. They found that kids who were more frequently exposed to violent video games were more likely to view certain types of violence as acceptable.

Although not every child who plays violent video games is going to act aggressively, the research indicates that many adolescents adopt the misconception that there are no consequences for violent behavior. This is especially true among boys, who are twice as likely to play violent video games than girls, the study found.

The findings were based on a survey of 166 children who played video games. Approximately 71 percent of the games reported contained at least some violent content, while 25 percent of the games contained intense violence with blood and gore.

Problem teens who exhibit aggressive or violent behavior may benefit from the positive programs that are offered by many boarding schools.