Preference for violent electronic games and aggressive behavior among children: The beginning of the downward spiral?

Salisch,Maria von M.v.,Vogelgesang,Jens J.,Kristen,Astrid A.,Oppl,Caroline C.,

Research article (journal)

Abstract

A one-year longitudinal study with 324 German third and fourth graders was conducted in order to find out whether a preference for violent electronic games socializes children to become more aggressive or whether aggressive individuals tend to select this type of game. Cross-lagged panel analyses suggest that children who were rated as openly aggressive at Time 1 intensified their preference for violent electronic games over time. We determined that it could be ruled out that this selection effect was due to a number of underlying variables ranging from ecological variables (neighborhood) to family variables (migration status, older brother) and child variables (gender, self-esteem, level of achievement). Discussion focuses on the emerging preference for violent electronic games among children. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Details zur Publikation

Release year: 2011
Language in which the publication is written: English