Another research done in Taiwan shows the link between Internet use and Aggressive behavior in teenagers. The report states that "teens with signs of Internet addiction were more likely to say they had hit, shoved, or threatened someone in the past year." According the Journal of Adolescent Health, there has not yet proved that Internet Addiction breeds violent behavior in children; however, "violence-prone teenagers are more likely to obsessively use the Internet".
There also suggestions that parents should pay close attention to their teenagers' Internet use and the potential effect on their real-life behavior. They should sit down and talk to their children about what they think about Internet and possible violence in their generation because according to Dr. Chih-Hung Ko, Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan, there are certain online activities would make the kids "release their anger."
Link to the article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,499105,00.html
I personally think that online video game contributes a lot in the Internet addiction and Aggressive behavior of human being and children in specific. Almost all video game contain some level of aggression which stimulate the players' behaviors. Based on an article on Video Game Addiction, "although gaming addiction is not yet offically recognized as a disorder, there is evidence that people at all ages, especially teens and pre-teens are facing severe consequences associated with compulsive use of video and computer games." And studies shows that 10-15 percent of gamers are addicted based on criteria for addiction of the World Health Organization.
Here is link to video game article: http://www.video-game-addiction.org/
I found a very interesting article. It seems like the long-term effects of prolonged Internet exposure are subject to debate these days between Taiwanese and American researchers.
ReplyDeleteEducation professor Dewey Cornell, from the University of Virginia, argues that the new study published by researchers in Taiwan “does not demonstrate that one behavior caused the other,” and that other studies have also shown “that persons who play violent video games will be more prone to have aggressive thoughts, feelings and actions.” “It could be that using the Internet causes people to behave more aggressively or it could be that aggressive people seek out the Internet,” University of Michigan (UM) psychology professor Brad Bushman points out. His main objection to the Taiwanese study is the fact that it doesn't establish clearly what came first – the addiction, or the aggressive behavior. “Or some other third factor could cause both – people with poor social skills don’t have any friends, so they spend a lot of time on the Internet and can’t resolve conflicts in non-aggressive ways,” he adds.
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Internet-Addiction-Makes-Teens-More-Aggressive-105261.shtml
Well, not only video games,but also family conflicts, and similar situations are the reasons that cause agressiveness. I wrote a paper assignment about agressive behavior in children before, and found out that there are many causes, and the most popular ones include game, TV programs, family conflict, and expericed abuse in the past. Alos, I know that many parents even let their children play games that recommended for an older age. Besides, nowadays, parents use game, at any kind, as a tool to keep their children busy with while they are not home. As a result, it promotes a condition in which kids are used to playing game, being addicted, and avoiding outside contact or social life. So, I think when we judge someone's behavior, we need to consider the parents' responsibility,too.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there are negative effects from using the internet excessively. I also agree that parents should monitor their kids closely as well. I have a younger cousin, freshmen in highschool, who stays on the internet more than anything else with the Online Xbox. So I know that it can be a distraction from school and other important things.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is a link between online vide games and aggression. I am most likely addicted to online video games myself. I play Call of Duty Back Ops on Xbox Live and I used to play World of Warcraft religiously. I know that when I had problems playing either I would get aggitated and easily angered. I have recently stopped playing World of Warcraft because of the effect it had on me. It is very easy to get drawn into the violence as an adult, so it must be even easier as a child. Many people use online gaming as an escape from the real world. Internet addiction is a serious problem that affects more people than they know.
ReplyDelete@Yelena: Thank you for sharing your thoughts and that interesting article^^. I agree with what you said about the third factor that lead to both the aggressive behaviors and Internet Addiction. Yet there has not proved either of them is a reason causing another, there is sure that there is a correlationship between aggressiveness and IAD which should be strongly considered in today technology driven world.
ReplyDelete@Trinh Nguyen: Absolutely, as we mentioned in our presentation in class the other day, there are many factors that affect IAD, including, socio-demographic, individual, family, school, and peer connection. All of these factors contribute strongly to the lifestyle as well as behaviors of children, teenagers, and even adults. So, we totally need the help, the connection, and the support from people around us, especially family's support. For those kids who struggling, I am definitely agree to what you have to say about the parents' responsibility. Parents have to teach their kids what is good and what is bad to do which could help them learn and avoid.
ReplyDelete@Brian Quedenfeld:
ReplyDelete"Internet addiction is a serious problem that affects more people than they know."
This is exactly the message that our groups want to point out and draw people' awareness. Thank you for summing it up^^
@Brian, Icouldn't have said it any better. People need to grow up and quit the unnescessary abuse over the web and get along. Immaturity is the cause of disputes.
ReplyDeleteIf you think about it, internet has unlimited access to anything. So children can search and learn violent behaviors online and then act them out in their daily life.
ReplyDeleteI agree that aggressive video games are contributing to these statistics; however, I think a lot of it has to do with learning to socialize and interact with others. The majority of an individuals' social and interpersonal skills are formed during their childhood and teenage years. If a teenager is spending all of their free time on the internet, they are not learning these skills.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this because my little brother plays video games and sometimes he says the most hateful things and my mother has just recently found out that he is getting them from his video games and other kinds of games he plays on the internet, but I also think that the television contributes to this also. They make certain shows that little kids shouldn't be watching but they do not rate them right.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the effects that online video games can have on people. I have seen some of my friends become completely engrossed in the games that they are playing, letting them emotionally affect them and change their moods and attitudes. I have witnessed my friends lash out at the computer/game as well as at other people, yelling and throwing things. This personal and emotional involvement in online gaming, which can translate into relative behavior in real life, has extremely negative effects on gamers and those around them.
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