Psychologist Blames Games For ''Demise'' of Young Men

[News Portal]

And just for something new, psychologist Dr Phillip Zimbardo (of the Stanford Prison experiment fame), is blaming video games for the "demise" of young men in the U.S. He and his personal assistant are asserting that video games and porn are creating "arousal addiction" where the addict craves new experiences, rather than the same experience repeatedly, resulting in risk-averse, anti-social vegetables, who are "getting left behind socially, sexually, and financially". Predictably, Dr Zimbardo draws on some of gaming's outlying tragedies to prove his point, such as the killing spree of Anders Behring Breivik, who totally played Call of Duty and World of Warcraft at some point in his life.

Source: Games Industry International

Read full article by GON News

[zakynthos]

why is it that games are to blame for mens problems and not film or literature? why is it always games? is COD 1,2,3,4 WAW, BO all bad games? is BF3 so bad? Diablo 3 so bad? Civ5 so bad?

[Mekon]

I have to say, I don't follow his logic.

On the one hand he claims that we suffer from "arousal addiction", constantly craving new experiences (rather than doing the same thing over and over again - boring!) and on the other hand, claims this makes us "less motivated to deal with a quickly evolving reality". Counter-intuitive much? Quickly evolving reality = new experiences.

He also floats the idea that makes us risk-averse? How does that gel with a craving for new experiences? I would have thought we'd be more inclined to take risks. :/

[Matty]

Someone should do a study on psychologist and/or people who claim these things.

No I'm serious, it would probably be very interesting.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Could there be a slight misinterpretation on the comments? I know gamers get really defensive about negative comments on video games but I did notice this comment:

"Technology is not the issue. Rather, it's the misuse of technology. There's a general overuse of video games and porn - especially in social isolation - which is not balanced out by other activities like exercise, face-to face socialization with peers, or individual time with any kind of male mentor," said Duncan in a TED interview.

I saw that as not necessarily pointing the finger on video games itself but the 'misuse' of video games. I do believe there is some element of truth in that video games and the internet are simply a new outlet for some messed up people.

[DodgyGeezer]

Much as we all like to bash psychologists (me included, you just have to take a casual glance at their bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, to realise what a crock they are) I do think that he might have a grain of truth here.

Studies are showing that the Internet is changing our brain structure, so it is reasonable to assume that playing games 40 hours a week, or having porn on tap would be having some impact.

Personally though, I would rather take the word of a medical researcher than a quack from a field that has as much rigour as witch doctory.

[Deserteagle1266]

Could there be a slight misinterpretation on the comments? I know gamers get really defensive about negative comments on video games but I did notice this comment:

"Technology is not the issue. Rather, it's the misuse of technology. There's a general overuse of video games and porn - especially in social isolation - which is not balanced out by other activities like exercise, face-to face socialization with peers, or individual time with any kind of male mentor," said Duncan in a TED interview.

I saw that as not necessarily pointing the finger on video games itself but the 'misuse' of video games. I do believe there is some element of truth in that video games and the internet are simply a new outlet for some messed up people.

now this quote can be true, but that can be said about overusing anything... sure u may get less socialised and stuff, but its not gunna mean ur gunna rampage through the main street with a baseball bat gta style

[xanarax]

Weird, my psychologist says that if video games bring me joy and they don't negatively impact my life I should play them.

That said, I do have a reasonably balanced life, I work full time and I'm social.

[SaNE]

I think the demise of 'young men' is more from the hard fact that parents aren't around as much as they should be, with both parents working much more common and not having the 'bonding' experiences that previous generations had.

That also trickles down into different industries where it was common place for the child to go to work with the father and learn their trade/profession, which is at a very steep decline thanks to OH&S, childcare, after school care, more school and homework added with the common place pressure that you go to school, high school then university and you get a 'better' higher paying job than your parents.

So where as the previous generation were spending more time with their family, going to school without the immense pressure, working with their parents and having the parents show and impart their knowledge, they had a much more rounded childhood and grew up a more rounded person.

Compared to today's standard of; Parents are gone before you go to school, you're pressured into going to university to be 'better' than everyone else, you go home where you watch TV and play games until your parents get home, you then eat, do your homework and go to bed to start the cycle all over again.
There's a parental gap that is missing, right from wrong, manners, experience, behavior; things that your parents are supposed to impart on you are being neglected and being replaced by school (be it private or public) which simply doesn't teach those things and it's wrong.

Obviously I know that (most of) the parents are working to provide their children a good life which is why they are working so much but it's just the side affect of the cost of living a decent life in today world.

My wall of text and 2c's, don't really care to go into the what makes bad people bad side of things.

[llllTrooperllll]

This debate has been going on for a very long time. I actually did a presentation on this very topic for an assignment 10 years ago (I am by no means an expert in this field, so my point of view is just that, a point of view).

The actions of today's killers are no different to those of the killers of the 1900's etc (before video entertainment). Research what serial killers used to do and they are as bad, if not worse than today's. It is well known within the scientific/psychological community that there is no single cause for someones mental state.

There are many contributing factors which would cause someone to do this. Blaming one or two interests is extremely narrow minded. It used to be music that caused people to become violent. Now its video games and movies. But yes, in the wrong hands, our forms of entertainment can become one of those contributing factors, but it would be difficult to prove that they are the sole contributing factor.

[InAUGral]

Could there be a slight misinterpretation on the comments? I know gamers get really defensive about negative comments on video games but I did notice this comment:

"Technology is not the issue. Rather, it's the misuse of technology. There's a general overuse of video games and porn - especially in social isolation - which is not balanced out by other activities like exercise, face-to face socialization with peers, or individual time with any kind of male mentor," said Duncan in a TED interview.

I saw that as not necessarily pointing the finger on video games itself but the 'misuse' of video games. I do believe there is some element of truth in that video games and the internet are simply a new outlet for some messed up people.

I agree. I read the statement and thought it quite fair and probably true. I mean if I was to spend all day playing games and watching porn and NEVER GOING OUT. I would be desperate for a new experience eventually and that in relation to porn could mean becoming a sex fiend. In terms of games it may cause you to behave like in a game but the amount of people who would become murdering psychopaths is incredibly low.

[André Axe'm]

Its a shame that psychologists seem to have a bad grasp of logic and jump to strange conclusions with their research. The data is usually okay, but the interpretation tends to be weird.

[Trixxter]

Its a bit of a two-sided coin on it, as someone with mental issues (aka medium-range depression) I do sometimes look to video-games for comfort in myself, and with social anxiety it doesn't help. HOWEVER, on the other hand, I KNOW that I can't rely on such a thing for comfort, and that I need help (which I am getting). I personally think the main problem is some of these people dont reach out for help, don't know that they cant rely on it as comfort, have been turned away or are afraid for help due to riddicule, which causes a downward spiral for themselves.

And then there's bigots like this Psychologist who doesn't know **** about the human mind and blames technology because it's an easy scapegoat.

[Marius]

I do blame games for my interest in redheads.

I used to prefer blondes.

[thefinn]

why is it that games are to blame for mens problems and not film or literature? why is it always games? is COD 1,2,3,4 WAW, BO all bad games? is BF3 so bad? Diablo 3 so bad? Civ5 so bad?

I hear solar cells are the devil too... especially to established governments of countries that have unions and labor disputes in the coal industry.

I doubt this is much different.

Truth is there are many changes going on in society, the least of which is computer gaming.