Exposure to violent video games increases automatic aggressiveness.
The effects of exposure to violent video games on automatic associations with the self were investigated in a sample of 121 students. Playing the violent video game Doom led participants to associate themselves with aggressive traits and actions on the Implicit Association Test. In addition, self-reported prior exposure to violent video games predicted automatic aggressive self-concept, above and beyond self-reported aggression. Results suggest that playing violent video games can lead to the automatic learning of aggressive self-views.
Uhlmann
Eric
E
Department of Psychology, Yale University; 2 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. eric.uhlmann@yale.edu
Swanson
Jane
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D018910:Video Games / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence