Health Advocates Stand Against Violence

In a two-page statement yesterday, four national health organizations asserted that there is a strong consensus in the public health community that violent entertainment can increase violent behavior in young people. While the report bases its overall findings on studies focused on violent content in television, movies, and music, it does state that games may have a negative impact that is "significantly more severe" than other media.

The statement outlines several key ways in which it is believed that violent content can have an adverse effect on behavior: by making children more likely to view violence as an effective way of settling conflicts; by leading to emotional desensitization toward violence in real life; and by feeding a perception that the world is a violent and mean place. Additionally, the report asserts that "children exposed to violent programming at a young age have a higher tendency for violent and aggressive behavior later in life than children who are not so exposed."

The report was endorsed by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

You can find the entire document in PDF format here.