Iowa State U.: Iowa State U. study: Violent video games increases aggresive behavior.

This article appeared on The America's Intelligence Wire on January 15, 2005. It discusses how a recent study by Iowa State University of their students showed that about 70% of students who played violent video games showed more of a leaning to give violent answers to various scenario questions. It also states that video game makers are partially responsible for youth violence but that video games are not the main source or the most important.

This relates to the text book in chapter 5 where it talks about learning and observational learning, as well as the section on conditioning. When these games are being played, the players see the subjects in the video games doing violent things. When there are no negative consequences or reinforcers, they will start to accept violence as being ok. Video games are generally played for an extended period of time. While the game is being played, players observe the violent actions of characters in the game and begin to mimic these actions.