Video games: Do they trigger violence?

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penix
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Video games: Do they trigger violence?

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http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article ... TLIN169129

Video games: Do they trigger violence?
BY MICHAEL OVERALL World Staff Writer
Monday, March 25, 2013
3/25/2013 6:54:19 AM

Yes, they do, according to researcher Brad Bushman in the New York Daily News.

"We know that video-game violence is certainly correlated with violence," Bushman argues, "just like smoking is correlated with lung cancer."

That's a pretty strong statement. And he tries to back it up in an article.

The most obvious counterargument is the simple fact that millions of people play these games and never actually hurt anybody. But he tries to cover that ground in the article.

"I've played violent video games for years," people tell Bushman. "Why am I not a killer?"

"My answer is usually pretty simple," he says. "You come from a good, stable home. You have friends. You weren't bullied in school. You have a healthy brain."

So maybe the video games aren't to blame after all?

Maybe the violence is triggered by the unstable home, the lack of friends, the bullying and the unhealthy brain?

And maybe people who are drawn to real violence are also drawn to video-game violence, explaining why a disproportionate number of killers also happen to be video-game fanatics?

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