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For ages, gamers everywhere have been tired of people claiming that violent videogames make people more violent. It appears as if we finally have the ammunition we need to stay their tongues. According to a recent paper based on studies at the University of Texas, violent videogames may actually have led to a decrease in violent crime overall. Not only are they not turning us into horrible little psycho murderers, they are reducing the amount of horrible little psycho murderers in the world. The study showed that violent video games may increase aggression—if only for the fact that they increase adrenaline flow—but that this aggression does not necessarily translate into violent crime. Instead, this aggression is expressed in a safe environment outside of violent consequences. The study called it the “incapacitation effect.” Simply put, if you are spending all of your time killing hookers in Grand Theft Auto and peeing on aliens in Duke Nukem Forever, then you have no time to go out and commit violent crimes. You are voluntarily choosing to stay inside and play videogames instead. 
Score one for the gamers! |