Effects of Video Games on Childrens Behavior - 1744 Words

An analysis about the effects of video games on children behavior Effect of Video Games on Children’s Behavior Introduction Social scientists have been examining the effect that video games have on behavior. From the introduction of video games in the 1980s, there have been numerous research studies to this effect (Andersen Taylor, 2008). The issue has become even more significant in the modern context because these video games have become bloodier and more realistic than ever before. Even though boys play these games more than girls in America, the consumption of video games has generally been high. Carey (2013) indicates that 32% of these gamers are below the age of 18. Therefore, it would be crucial to evaluate the effects†¦show more content†¦Frustrating nonviolent video games indirectly induce aggressive cognitions by linking thoughts and feelings. Such games also increase arousal but it is violent games that directly cause the emergence of aggressive thoughts, stimulating long term development of structures associated with aggressive knowledge. Carey (2013) gives perfect examples of video games causing aggressive behaviors in children. According to the reporter, the young men responsible for opening fire at Columbine High School and even those that opened fire at the Auorora, Colo movie theatre as was in the news were all found to be video gamers who were deemed to be acting out of some digital fantasy. The exposure to computer games gave the idea for them to go on rampage or at least aroused the urge for such acts. It would therefore be appreciated that computer games, also a form of video games, caused an arousal of aggressive behavior in the perpetrators. This makes it easy to appreciate that video games, specifically those involving violence, trigger aggressive behaviors. On the other hand, video gaming promotes pro-social behavior and positive behavior. Avid gamers exhibit improved reflexes, healthier brains and better cognitive skills. It causes the regions of the brain in charge of memory function, strategic planning and spatial orientation to increase. Being a pervasive activity, it promotes numerous motor andShow MoreRelatedVideo Games And Its Effects On Children927 Words   |  4 PagesVideo games are a more interesting form of entertainment for the simple reason that players may become part of the game’s plot. Video games were invented for many years now. However, the current variety of games raised concerns about how they affect the children s behavior due to the fact that the games are becoming more sophisticated. Children spend most of their free time playing video games. Sometimes children refrain from completing important duties and dedicate all of their time playing videoRead MorePositive Effects Of Violent Video Games1161 Words à ‚  |  5 PagesViolent video games have been a popular pass time for American teenagers ever since the first ones were released. The most popular of these games are Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Mortal Kombat, and Doom. It has become a popular belief that these games are directly linked to violent behaviors in our youth. Numerous scholars have set out to determine the validity of these assumptions through vast surveys and studies in America. All of these scholars share the belief that violent video games affectRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children s Behavior1626 Words   |  7 PagesThe effect of violent video games on children’s behavior has been the major concern of numerous researchers over the last several decades. 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According to a survey, the researcher found that in 1992, approximately ninety-two percent of U.S. kids between 2 and 17 years of age play video games, and their parents bought 225 million of them last year toRead MoreThe Effects Of Violent Video Games On Children Essay1670 Words   |  7 PagesMany parents in today’s society are adamant about their teenagers refraining from playing violent video games. Specifically, parents worry about their children playing mature-rated video gam es that feature blood, gore, vulgar language, use of drugs, and intense violence. Quite a few of these parents believe that their children can be heavily influenced by these brutal video games, which will in turn raise their teenagers to become violent, aggressive, and criminal minded individuals. In hindsightRead MoreVideo Game Technologys Negative Effects on the Next Generation893 Words   |  4 PagesVideo Game Technologys Negative Effects on the Next Generation Video Games made their first appearance in the 1970’s however did not develop popularity until the 1980’s. By the end of that decade, video games had become a preferred childhood leisure activity; psychologists urged many with the concerns of the ill effects of video games. â€Å" Even The military has long been aware of some of the side effects of video games†¦ Some of the best fighter pilots in the world grew up playing these gamesRead MoreVideo Game Effects On Childrens Development930 Words   |  4 PagesVIDEO GAME EFFECTS ON CHILDRENS DEVELOPMENT It is believed the average gamer usually ages 13 and up spends up to 6.3 hours a day playing video games. That is an alarming rate, which concerns both the public and scientist. Through out this paper three different articles will be analyzed and their view on the impact of video games on children’s and adolescents. The first article to be discussed is â€Å"Prospective Investigation of Video Game Use in Children and Subsequent Conduct Disorder and DepressionRead MoreVideo Games Violence664 Words   |  3 Pages104 August 11, 2013 Video Games and Violence Video games and violence have different effects on children according to the type of video games that is being watched It is important to understand the world of video games. All video games do not prevent violence in children. Parents should take into consideration in monitoring their child while choosing video games. Depending on the video game that is chosen, does not mean the child will result in violent behavior later on in life. ThereRead MoreViolent Video Games : Positive And Negative Effects On Children And Adolescents774 Words   |  4 Pagessystems, violent video games have become well-liked by children and adolescents. The playing of violent video games has always been a controversial topic, but in recent years it has become a heated debate. Whether the playing of these games desensitize the player or not. Video games have been around since the late 1970s, however violent video games were introduced in the 1990s. In recent years the violence in games have increased along with the enhanced graphics making the games more realistic. ViolentRead MoreThe Effects of Video Games on Children1610 Words   |  6 PagesMany participants also suggested that the games caused the children to have strong imaginations, while a few disagreed. 61.0% said that electronic games did not cause the children to lack good behavior. The survey also showed that electronic games do not cause the children to be skilled in terms of their self expression, and do not cause them visual stress. On the issue concerning obesity, the percentage of the respondents who said that electronic games caused children to be obese was equal to the

Laughter Is A Part Of The Envious Human Experience

Laughter is a part of the envious human experience we as beings have. It is undoubtedly one of the things that make living worthwhile. In fact, according to Matthew Hurley and his fellow associates, â€Å"a large portion, in any case, of people’s time is spent attempting to get each other to laugh† (Hurley, Dennett, and Adams Jr.). Laughing has a way of offering relaxation like nothing else does. It has the power to unconsciously change any situation into a good one just as soon as it starts. It definitely has the potential to take over you and there are millions of reasons to laugh. Every laugh is as unique as the individual displaying it, yet the possible benefits remain the same. The effects of laughter has been studied time and time again†¦show more content†¦Although it does not seem as credible, King Solomon, Plato, the ancient greek physicians, and others of great influence all took an interest in what seemed to be an obscure and preposterous idea in the years to come. Not to mention, studies and history both has proven that laughter has risen through mockery in the medical setting, in terms of health and prevention, more than enough times to grab the attention of the medical world permanently. Just as an apple a day will keep the doctor away, laughing for awhile will grant you more days with a smile. Laughter has the ability to give our immune system a much needed boost allowing it to continue fighting off infections and sickness. When we laugh, we send an ok signal that triggers an increase in disease fighting antibodies. This benefits immune function regulation cells, as well as, special cells with the task of seeking out and destroying viral and tumor cells. Neuropeptides and T cells that help fight off infections are also given a boost (Laughter is No Joke!). Laughter may even compare to a proper diet and exercise when it comes to keeping you healthy and disease free. That’s according to Dr. Lee Berk, who has spent nearly three decades studying the ways the aftershocks of a good laugh ripple through your brain and body (Heid). Have you ever been in pain

Critically assess psychological theories of fascism. Free Essays

string(80) " that fascism is a psychology also entails that it has a psychology of its own\." Introduction According to the Oxford dictionary, Fascism is â€Å"an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. In general use extreme right-wing, authoritarian, or intolerant views or practices: this is yet another example of health fascism in action. The term Fascism was first used of the totalitarian right-wing nationalist regime of Mussolini in Italy (1922–43); the regimes of the Nazis in Germany and Franco in Spain. We will write a custom essay sample on Critically assess psychological theories of fascism. or any similar topic only for you Order Now Fascism tends to include a belief in the supremacy of one national or ethnic group, a contempt for democracy, an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader, and a strong demagogic approach†. Geoffrey Gorer (1935:199) noted in 1935: â€Å"Mr Wells thinks that he hates fascism; he is horror-struck as any liberal at its brutality, its barbarism, its philistinism, its illogicality and its narrow nationalism; but he puts all the blame on the last quality; if it was only international, it wouldn’t really be so bad†. It is clear from Gorer’s satire that even as early as 1935, to understand Fascism only as a negative thought process, was rejected and intellectuals started taking a kinder view of the movement (if it could be called thus?). Many started analysing and assessing its psychological theories, which, precisely, we will endeavour to do in the following essay. Though a critical assessment of these theories is expected, it would suffice to say that a positive view regarding Fascism at the onset will serve our purpose sufficiently, for the ideology has already been seen in a very bad light for the repercussions that it entailed and the miseries the wor ld had to face, in the light of a consolidated fascistic onslaught during the world war II. However, what we shall try and understand is the modern view that Fascistic tendencies have existed in all ages and in all humans universally, and that they found an explosive eruption during an unfortunate period and consequently a set of nations and people had to bear the brunt of being blamed for it. Universality of Fascist psychology So, this understanding of Fascism has now come a long way from the understanding of it as purely a political/mass movement. It was believed that the fascist party â€Å"introduced† fascism by force or by â€Å"political man oeuvre†. Contrary to this, Reich (1946:6) says that his medical experience with individuals from all kinds of social strata, races, nationalities and religions shows that â€Å"fascism† is the only politically organized expression of the average human character structure. Furthermore, it is a character structure which has nothing to do with race, nation or party but which is general and international. In this characterological sense, â€Å"fascism† is the basic emotional attitude of a man in authoritarian society, with its machine civilization and its mechanistic-mystical view of life. It is the mechanistic-mystical character of man in our times which creates fascist parties and not vice versa.† Fascism according to modern sociologists and psychologists, therefore, is not a purely reactionary movement; rather it is a mixture of rebellious emotions and reactionary social ideas. Now if this is true, then we cannot limit fascism specifically to a national character of Germany or Japan. If understood as a mixture of rebellious emotions and reactionary social ideas, it can be considered an international phenomenon, which permeates all organizations of human society in all nations. This means that there could be German, Italian, Spanish, Anglo-Saxon, Jewish and Arabian fascism (Riech, 1946:7) Basis of Fascistic psychology In its pure form, Fascism is the sum total of all irrational reactions of the average human character. Its origins are from the basic human tendencies. In Freudian explanation of the unconscious, the superficial layer in the nature of an average individual consists of that of conscientiousness and compassion. This superficial layer is similar to the biological core of human nature which too is co-operative and love based. But unfortunately, the superficial layer and the biological core are separated from each other by an intermediary layer which makes an individual cruel and sadistic. This intermediary layer is also known as â€Å"secondary impulses† or the unconscious, the anti-social structure in human structure which is the secondary result of the repression of primary biological impulses. As the contact between the â€Å"superficial layer† and the â€Å"biological core† is hard to obtain, what makes appearance is the perverse antisocial layer of the character (viii). Since irrational part of the human nature becomes prominent, both the other layers become subservient to the subversive, irrational tendencies, thus giving birth to prejudices. All prejudices show their origin from irrational part of human character whether they be race prejudices, national prejudices, ethnic prejudices or even, violence. Since Fascism is an emotional outburst whether it be against intolerable social conditions or depravity of any sort, it cannot be understood solely as a political phenomenon. It is a human phenomenon, a psychological-human- phenomena which cannot be tied to a boundary of nationality or race, but that which is universal, pervading the entire world, across all nationalities. And this is very clear from the history of the 20th century that no society has remained untouched from violence or irrational behaviour. In addition, irrational behaviour has played a vital role in human history and has achieved results which have not always been negative. If negative at all, we cannot make fascism harmless if we only look for it in Americans or Germans and we do not look for it in oneself and the social institutions which hatch him ev ery day (Reich:7). He argues (p.11) Hitlerism is not confined to Germany; it penetrates worker’s organizations and all kinds of liberal and democratic circles. Fascism is not a political party, but a specific Weltanschuung and a specific attitude toward people, toward love and work. So this proves that fascism more than being a political, subversive movement is a part of human psychology, which though a maligned movement has positive elements too. We shall now analyze Fascistic psychology in relation to its aesthetics, people, and work. Fascist aesthetics The fact that fascism is a psychology also entails that it has a psychology of its own. You read "Critically assess psychological theories of fascism." in category "Essay examples" This psychology of Fascism can be unearthed by understanding its aesthetics. Alan Tansman in (Fall 2008:144-153), analysing Japanese Fascist prose says, â€Å"†¦so captivated, we can still seek to trace the fascist moment by paying attention to form not primarily as embodiments of concepts that need elucidation (though they need that too), but rather as patterns of fascistic feelings that require feelings and unravelling. To trace the movement of fascist aesthetics within or across works would mean to follow it as a style of thought and representation, a style embodied in forms that leave their content behind and have in Henri Focillon’s (1992: 69) words, â€Å"a mobile life in a changing world†. Similarly Starbinski, (1989:116-21), praising another Japanese Yasuda’s work says, â€Å"The uncomfortable truth that Yasuda’s work was more than mere dangerous incitement, but was also powerful poetry, reminds us that even after we account for the political implications of his language there remains a formal quality that resists both being analysed critically and used politically† . The undeniable aesthetics of the Fascists was similarly emphasized by Tansman ( 2008:146) saying, â€Å"this allows us to see in action Kobayashi’s aesthetics, his evocation of â€Å" fascist moments† that attempted to shut down his reader’s critical intelligence and make self-abnegation, sacrifice and violence feel alluringly beautiful†. These examples of the readings of Japanese fascistic writers reveals that in spite of the fact that these writers were following an agenda, there still remains a subtle aesthetic beauty to be unearthed, understood and appreciated. And this again proves our initial assertion that tendencies of fascistic psychology have been present at all times as we find the same crisis with general literary men too. Fascistic psychology towards people Franklin D. Roosevelt said â€Å"The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Henry Wallace too said â€Å"Still another danger is represented by those who, paying lip service to democracy and the common welfare, in their insatiable greed for money and the power which money gives, do not hesitate surreptitiously to evade the laws designed to safeguard the public from monopolistic extortion. Their final objective toward which all their deceit is directed is to capture political power so that, using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously, they may keep the common man in eternal subjection. They claim to be super-patriots, but they would destroy every liberty guaranteed by the Constitution. They are patriotic in time of war because it is to their interest to be so, but in time of peace they follow power and the dollar, wherever that may lead.† This sort of disillusionment caused by democracy sought being redressed by Fascism. Fascism became popular because it could do what liberalism and socialism did not succeed in doing. People have the need to belong to something greater, something superior than themselves. During crisis, the common people crave for unity and purpose of life and this in turn causes them to seek strength and guidance. Fascism provided that. Fascist psychology is the mentality of the subjugate â€Å"little man† who craves authority and he is both a ‘revolutionary’ who believes in rational rebellion against intolerable social conditions and a ‘radical’ for he believes in going to the root’. With this aspect in view, we could say that Fascism brought the inferiority instincts of the suppressed human to the core and created an emotional crisis in which the aspirations of common people started being given the due importance. Fascistic psychology towards work Fascism was a wave which brought extreme nationalism into vogue and had national pride and development at its core. The fascists in Italy and Germany wanted to see their countries as super-powers. Therefore the work ethics as outlined by Fascists was hard work. As Corradini tells us that for Italy to become an economic power â€Å"what was required was a marshalling, rationalization, and disciplining of human and natural resources to the tasks such a process would inevitably entail. Sacrifice and discipline were advocated as cardinal virtues for a nation of â€Å"producers† (1924:214-29). National pride in nation building was the mantra. And though being blatantly anti-modern, Mussolini piloting his own aircraft and tooling the Italian hills in his red sports car were public displays of this modernizing temper. The public policies of introducing the work ethic among civil servants, of insistence that the trains run on time, and plans for the development of a modern road syste m were the first overt indications of the character of Fascism’s modernizing disposition (Gregor, 1974:370-384). This work ethic of disciplining and progress according to Volpe (1928) gave a â€Å"massive impulse† to economic development. It was this work ethic in which pauperized masses of workers developed a sharp consciousness of their social situation, and also developed a will to eliminate their social misery. As Reich (1946:16) says, â€Å"It was exactly the pauperized masses who carried Fascism, the ultimate in political reaction, to power†. Here, it would not be impertinent to discuss the Fascistic attitude towards Modernization too. Though generally believed to be anti-modernistic in its approach, in hearkening back to pre-modern ideals and recreating a utopian â€Å"ancient Rome†, Fascism had undeniable modernistic tendencies. Turner (1972:548) conceives of modernization as being a complex process â€Å"involving industrialization, urbanization, secularization, and rationalization†. These elements which form the crux of what we try to ascertain as modern, though Modernity in itself is a vague and ambiguous term. However, if these markers enlisted by Turner form the base of being modern, then by that standard, fascists were near moderns. The principal constituents that entered into the coalition that became Fascism-Futurism, Italian Nationalism and Revolutionary National Syndicalism, seem to have all been clearly modernizing in intention (Gregor, 1974:373). All of this conjoined with the Fascist program s of urban redevelopment and expansion made Rome, Milan, Turin, and Genoa heavily populated modern industrial and commercial centres. This suggests that Fascism could hardly be conceived as a â€Å"utopian anti-modernism† in intention (Gregor, 1974:377). Maddison (1964) points out that in 1938, using 1913 as a base, the index of aggregate volume of output of Italy had risen to 153.8 compared more than favourably with that of France (109.4), and Germany (149.9). Again using 1913 as a base, the aggregate index for output per man in 1938 stood at 145.2 for Italy, 136.5 for France, 122.4 for Germany, 143.6 for United Kingdom, and 136.0 for the United States. This proves that the Fascist work culture had borne productive fruits and that in spite of the fact that they declared themselves to be anti-Modernism, Fascists were inclined totally towards industrialization, one of the most important and universally accepted tenets of the modernization process. This evaluation of the psychology of the Fascists on a human, personal and socio-economic level leads us to the belief that there was not much wrong with the aggressive policies pursued by the fascists. The problem arose with the execution of those policies and their repercussions thereafter. The only thing that the writer has tried to prove in this paper is that Fascistic tendencies were not something new that had descended suddenly upon the earth, but that they are latent forces locked in all individuals and ages as History has shown. Therefore, to label a set of countries or people as fascists is not warranted. We all are fascists in some way or the other and the need of the hour is to control this fascism in each of us for the furtherance of a more beneficial and humane human psychology. Bibliography: 1) Reich, Wilhelm. (1946:6) The mass psychology of Fascism: Orgone Institute Press 2) Tansman, Alan. Reading Fascism’s Form. Representations, vol 104. No1 (Fall2008), pp.144-153 3) Focillon, Henri. (1992:69) The life of Forms in Art :New York. 4) Starobinski, Jean.(1989:116-21) â€Å"The Critical Relation† in The Living Eye, trans.Arthur Gothammer, Cambridge, 1989. 5) Gorer, Geoffrey. (1935.199) Nobody Talks Politics: A Satire with an Appendix on our Political Intelligentsia : London. 6) Corradini, Enrico. (1924:214-29) â€Å"Nationalismo e socialism†, in Discorsi Politici, Florence. 7) Gregor, James. ( April,1974:370-384) Fascism and Modernization .World Politics, vol.26. No.3. 8) Volpe. (1928). Lo sviluppo storico del fascism , Rome. 9) Turner, Henry, Jr., ( July,1972:547-64) â€Å"Fascism and Modernization†, World Politics, XXIV 10) Maddison, Angus.(1964) Economic Growth in the West. New York. Appendices A, E, H, I. How to cite Critically assess psychological theories of fascism., Essay examples