4 ms·

Call this confirmation bias or anecdotal evidence. I can relate to this study. I only play a few video games. The most recent that I play is "ShadowGun - DeadZ

• kohanz 11y ago
  Anecdotal counterpoint. I believe your aggressiveness is due to the competitiveness, not the "violent" content of the game. The video games I play are generally shooters (e.g. Halo series) or sports games (e.g. FIFA). I'm not a violent or aggressive person and video games have almost never made me upset. However, I tend to play mostly offline, either by myself or couch co-op with friends. This past year, I started playing FIFA (soccer) online, against others. It's a rush because it's competitive, but for a while (during the learning curve) I was embarrassed and shocked by how much it affected my mood. After a bad session of FIFA, I was angry, short-tempered, aggressive and it easily bled into my actual life. I recognized this negative behavior and was able to stamp it out (which shouldn't be an accomplishment for a 30-something adult). My point being, the trigger for me was not the content of the game (shooting vs. sports), but playing in an ultra-competitive environment against others, where winning comes at all costs (even unsportsmanlike tactics). I imagine that if I went out to play a competitive soccer match (which I do play) and lost a tight game to an obnoxious opponent, I would also come home with higher than normal anger and aggressiveness - that is what competition can do to you, chemically.
  • knodi123 11y ago
    > Anecdotal counterpoint. I believe your aggressiveness is due to the competitiveness, not the "violent" content of the game. Abso-freakin'-lutely. I participate in a religious debate forum online, and when I find myself sucked into a conversation with a recalcitrant jerk who is actively trying to deceive people with slimy rhetorical tricks, I get so angry. And after I've had my say, I still find myself getting snippy with my wife and generally having a short temper. I'd love to see the APA recommend against debating religion online. That would really help me improve my life and the relationships inside my family. Either that, or I show some self-discipline and simply stop participating. ;-)
    • kelukelugames 11y ago
      I recommend against debating religion online. That sounds like a hobby for jerks. Do you enjoy being angry?
      • knodi123 11y ago
        I recommend against calling people names because you don't like the nature of the conversations they have in their spare time. I assure you, that kind of childish insult is even beneath the standards of the forum you apparently disdain so much.
• logfromblammo 11y ago
  I noticed that I got snippy with the family after I had my head stuck inside a partially disassembled dryer for a few hours over the weekend. And at the end of all that, I had to order a part, so the major problem still isn't fixed. Attempting appliance repair was not helping me to be a better parent. All I wanted was to be left alone so I could curse at the stupid, broken machine properly, and so that it could feel bad about what it had done. At least it's not one of the stupid low-flow toilets that require us to own one plunger per toilet, rather than one for the whole household. Nothing makes me more short-tempered than repairing a broken device around the household. Nothing. It is almost as though they are breaking themselves on purpose, just to annoy me with the need to fix or replace them. But then I go murder creatures in a first-person action RPG for an hour or so, and I feel fine ...until the stupid cheap-ass Bluetooth dongle cuts out again, and my mouse and headphones stop working. The worst that happens while I play is that I don't pay much attention to the spouse or kids while I'm doing it. But that's true for any solo game, and I'm not sure they would want my attention while I'm all grouchy from recent household repairs.