The Relationship Between Usage of Video Games and Aggressive Behavior in Children

Date of Graduation

Summer 1983

Degree

Master of Science in Education in Secondary Education

Department

Reading, Foundations, and Technology

Committee Chair

David Daly

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between computerized video games and aggression in a population of 113 sixth-grade children. Results on a peer-nominated measure of aggression were correlated with usage levels of video games recorded by the subjects in a self-report survey. The study revealed a significant positive correlation between video game usage and aggression for the total group. Video game usage was not significantly correlated to physical, verbal, indirect, or acquisitive aggression for males. A significant positive correlation was found between video game usage and acquisitive, indirect, verbal, and physical aggression for females. It was concluded that the fantasy aspect of video games may serve as a source of satisfaction for boys, thereby lowering levels of aggression. The fantasy-like nature of video games may reduce the inhibitions girls feel toward expressing aggression and result in an increase of aggressive behavior.

Subject Categories

Education

Copyright

© Stella Jean Sullivan

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Dissertation/Thesis

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