Factors Determining Aggressive Behavior In Teenagers

Mental stability is seen as the strongest risk factors when it comes to the potential for violence. A close second is the teen's quality of home life. Some researchers feel that the hype and fear over the violent video games are actually more harmful than the video games themselves. Kids who have mental health issues may play these games as a way to escape from the problems of real life. This, however, may put adults on high alert and could actually do more harm to the kids. When an adult is acting suspicious over the fact that a teen plays these games, the teen is likely to react to these emotions and respond in a similar manner. This response is not really connected to the games, but represents a reaction to the treatment which is viewed as unreasonable and restrictive. There is also a risk that the concern of adult might be misdirected and result in the lack of treatment for possible underlying mental health issues. This allows their conditions to worsen, thus increasing the potential risk of the teenager becoming aggressive and violent with others.

Other studies looked at the association with delinquent peers and a depressed mood and how these factors may lead to a teen participating in high risk behavior. Much of the research supports that these two factors play a major role in determining how a teen reacts when they are not happy with how they are being treated.

Research into these factors also explored the potential role of game violence and they found that the games are not predictors of violence in teens.

Violent computer games might serve as outlets for excessive aggressiveness

Some research looks at how violent video games are actually beneficial for teens who are exposed to other risk factors for being engaged into violent behavior.

For many of these teenagers, these video games are the only way to do this. They know that the actions they take in the games are not actions that they can take in real life situations. Because of this, they use the games to act out violent and aggressive behavior so that they can be less violent and aggressive when they are out in the real world and interacting with both peers and adults.

See Also: Violent Video Games Sharpen Focus, But Is This A Good Thing?

Mixed conclusions and need for more research

Many researchers still disagree about whether or not video games induce aggressive and violent behavior in kids and young adults. It seems like the argument will continue on for a long time - both sides have extensive research to back their claims. As of today, it appears that certain factors could potentially make someone more prone to high-risk behavior and that video games may essentially trigger their behavior in an indirect way by potentially causing teens to adopt the precursor of bullying, which may eventually lead to physical violence. However, just as much research shows that teenagers are not psychologically affected by these games and some research even shows that violent video games could be an outlet for aggression so that it does not even enter the real world.