FOX Medical Team: Violent video games - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

FOX Medical Team: Violent video games

Posted: Updated:
  • Gun Control Across America

  • A high-tech startup is wading into the gun control debate with a cellphone controller that would allow gun owners to know when their weapon is being moved - and disable it remotely.
    A high-tech startup is wading into the gun control debate with a wireless controller that would allow gun owners to know when their weapon is being moved - and disable it remotely.
  • Thursday, May 16 2013 3:45 PM EDT2013-05-16 19:45:21 GMT
    District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray's administration does not support a bill that would require gun owners in the nation's capital to carry liability insurance.
    District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray's administration does not support a bill that would require gun owners in the nation's capital to carry liability insurance.
  • Thursday, April 25 2013 5:41 PM EDT2013-04-25 21:41:33 GMT
    A gun owners' rights group is threatening to sue 35 Maryland local governments unless they repeal gun regulations that the group says violate state law.
    A gun owners' rights group is threatening to sue 35 Maryland local governments unless they repeal gun regulations that the group says violate state law.

Guns weren't the only things President Obama asked Congress to act on Wednesday.  He mentioned another hot topic in the debate on gun violence: violent video games.

"And Congress should fund research into the effects violent video games have on young minds..we don't benefit from ignorance. We don't benefit from not knowing the science of this epidemic of violence," he said.

The President isn't the only one talking about violent video games.  The National Rifle Association held a news conference following the Sandy Hook shooting, calling out the games and movies.

So do violent video games and movies change how children look at and think about violence?

A new survey by Common Sense Media shows 75 percent of parents feel violent video games contribute to violence.  Those are parents' fears, but what does science say?

A small study done at the University of Indiana using MRIs looked at about 20 young men playing video games and found that after shooting at characters for 10 hours in a week, there was a decrease in the part of the brain linked with inhibition, attention and decision making -- which some translate to mean more aggression.

When the 18 to 29-year-old men stopped playing, the brain activity returned, but the big question is, how does this translate into everyday behavior?

"There's some evidence that kids who play video games are in homes that have fewer rules.  So consequently, they may not be learning the same things that other kids are, and that may be a situation.  There's clearly some kids who might be unstable to being with where video games will promote their violent behavior.  For the vast majority of people, I don't think it translates into more violent behavior," said Dr. Joel Young, a child psychiatrist.

Video: FOX's Deena Centofanti reports.

Powered by WorldNow

WTTG FOX 5 & myfoxdc
5151 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20016
Main Number: (202) 244-5151
Newsroom: (202) 895-3000
fox5tips@wttg.com

Didn't find what you were looking for?
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Fox Television Stations, Inc. and Worldnow. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices