10 Biggest Mainstream Misconceptions About Video Games

1. Gaming Breeds Violent Behaviour

How many times has it been reported that some troubled teenager has shot up a school or a shopping mall and the press immediately come out swinging with "copies of Call Of Duty were found in his room" or "he enjoyed violent video games like GTA". Being that titles like these are some of the most popular of all time, it's no wonder they're in these peoples' rooms - they're owned and played by almost everyone at some point. It is the most ridiculous fallacy that video games engender violence in players, or desensitise them to violence to the point where they don't care who they shoot. This behaviour is no different to the way the media used to react in the past. In England, when child James Bulger was murdered, the media reported that the two killers were obsessed with "video nasty" films and had desensitised them to violence, after the Columbine school shootings in Colorado it was reported that Marilyn Manson's music was to blame for warping the minds of the two teenagers who committed the atrocity. At no point in either case (or the case of the Sandy Hook school shooter who was reported to be obsessed with COD) did anyone actually ask where the parents were, what kind of life the killers had or what mental health issues were documented. No, the blame went on controversial media because it's an easier answer that sells headlines. Let's get some facts straight, a study conducted by Oxford University found that violence in games doesn't inherently make a player aggressive, its the difficulty and feeling of intense challenge that does. There have been many studies over the years and not a single one has made a link between the actions of a player in a violent game and their propensity for violence in real life, so please put this ridiculous concept to bed. Are there any other viewpoints on the beloved medium that need addressing? Let us know in the comments!