Playing highly competitive video games may lead to aggressive behavior

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-08/apa-phc082911.php

Public release date: 29-Aug-2011
Contact: Audrey Hamilton
American Psychological Association

Video game competitiveness may trump violence as cause of aggression, according to new research

WASHINGTON – While most research into video games and aggressive behavior has focused on violent games, competitiveness may be the main video game characteristic that influences aggression, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.

In a series of experiments in which video games were matched on competitiveness, difficulty, and pace of action, researchers found video game violence alone did not elevate aggressive behavior. However, more competitive games produced greater levels of aggressive behavior than less competitive games, no matter how much violence was in the games, according to research published online in Psychology of Violence. The study was conducted by lead author Paul J.C. Adachi, M.A., a PhD candidate at Brock University in Canada.

[...]

..