Re:Violent video game effects on aggression, empathy, ... a ...
by kenjackson on Saturday August 13, 2011 @02:51PM
(#2881669)
The answer to this, IMO, is pretty simple. The people you're talking to probably like video games, to some extent, and don't like rap.
There's research on how people will discard scientific evidence that goes against their belief and embrace those that support their beliefs.
Now it's possible that the body of evidence is actually much stronger for one than the other, but my ability to predict how people will react to such studies based on their beliefs prior to the study causes me to believe that the evidence has no real bearing on their opinions.
With that said, I do like rap and video games, and think they both contribute. I knew some MMA competitors who used to play some really violent game killing zombies before matches -- they said it got them in the mood for what they were about to do. Now they were playing a completely legal sport, but it did seem to actually get them pumped up. A minor effect maybe, and maybe doesn't map to crime or real violence, but it does do something.
There's research on how people will discard scientific evidence that goes against their belief and embrace those that support their beliefs.
Now it's possible that the body of evidence is actually much stronger for one than the other, but my ability to predict how people will react to such studies based on their beliefs prior to the study causes me to believe that the evidence has no real bearing on their opinions.
With that said, I do like rap and video games, and think they both contribute. I knew some MMA competitors who used to play some really violent game killing zombies before matches -- they said it got them in the mood for what they were about to do. Now they were playing a completely legal sport, but it did seem to actually get them pumped up. A minor effect maybe, and maybe doesn't map to crime or real violence, but it does do something.