To What Extent Can Violent Video Games Be Said to Explain Violent Essay

To What Extent Can Violent Video Games Be Said to Explain Violent Behaviour in Teenagers - Essay Example Many parents and educators allege that this obsession with violent video games that grips so many teenagers is a direct cause of violent behaviour in teenagers. A closer examination of the facts about video games and teenage behaviour reveals, however, that this is a very dubious claim, since it is very difficult to prove any causal link between video game playing and violent behaviour in teenagers. The main argument in favour of a link between violent video games and teenage behaviour is that, like violent films on television and in the cinema, they can affect the development of a young person’s personality in an adverse way. Several well respected American medical associations such as the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Medical Association issued a joint statement in year 2000 saying that there is a causal connection between media violence and aggressive behaviour , but that it is a complex effect (Gentile et al., 2004, p. 19). In the United Kingdom there is a strict classification system in place that is intended to prevent the most violent games from getting into the hands of people under eighteen years of age. This system is not always effective, since the majority of parents do not monitor the titles that their teenage children buy, and they often have very little knowledge about what these games actually contain. Clearly the authorities in most countries are convinced that violent video games can cause harm, and they take steps to minimize this harm. These measures do not, however, amount to real hard evidence that links video games with violent behaviour. Media in general contain vast amounts of material ranging from innocuous cartoons and slapstick violence to sick and criminal content that clearly should not be available to teenagers. Young people are exposed to multiple sources of images and texts on the television, in print material and on the internet every day, and so it is difficult to prove that video games are the root cause of any violent behaviour. Any amount of other sources could influence teenagers, and so it seems unreasonable to pinpoint video games as a cause of violent behaviour. They are perhaps an easy target because they are well regulated, and their popularity can be measured through sales and feedback to the providers. They may also arouse deep suspicion in technophobe adults who cannot keep up with the skills of young people in their care. For all of these reasons, it seems likely that the perceived effect of playing video games is exaggerated, and that their relative novelty in the entertainment landscape has attracted undue attention to the particular contribution that they make. It can be argued that evidence for the influence of video games is to be found in statements of young people themselves. There are many cases where teenagers enter the criminal justice system because they are acc used of some act of violence. In such a situation they can state that they were influenced by a certain game title. Examples such as the â€Å"Grand Theft Auto† series are often mentioned in this connection, because this kind of first person action game involves street crime and aggression towards fictional characters. Violent youth offenders are often

Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Personal Statement Example Moreover, I have a willingness to develop my English speaking skills, which will certainly make my interaction with people overseas better. Ever since I was a young kid, I have always wanted to go abroad and roam around the world. Although I did my primary schooling from Turkey, I felt uneasy being in only one place and wanted to travel to different places and meet different kinds of people. Moving to the United Kingdom was a wonderful experience and it gave me great joy to meet people from a different culture. My experience throughout this time earned me many skills and I discovered a lot about my abilities. First of all, when I was on the basketball team at my school, I learnt to perform very well under pressure in order to get the best result. This happened especially during those times when there were only a few minutes left for the end of the game and we still had to score another point to win. Most importantly, I have learnt to accept my failures and be critical with myself by trying to find out the areas where I failed to perform well and perfecting those areas before the next game. I believe that such determination will make me a very good business manager, as carrying on with enthusiasm after losing a deal is a very important skill for business men to have. Another experience at my high school made me gain essential skills required by professionals in business management. ... Furthermore, I gained the ability to successfully work and get along with a diverse range of people. In addition, I learnt how to take quick decisions whenever an emergency related to the technical service or a fight between two individuals occurred. I believe that such skills are extremely important in the business profession because a business manager should know how to change the tone of his proposition depending on the mood of the client. Moreover, I believe that once you get along with a client, you are already halfway to scoring the deal. On the other hand, this experience taught me how important communication skills are in the profession of being an international business manager. Although I have developed extremely good interpersonal skills, I want to further develop my English speaking skills. I understand how important it is for an international business manager to be extremely fluent in English, especially during interactions with clients in different countries. This is th e reason why I have taken English as one of the subjects for the Business Foundation course which I am currently studying at CATS College. Other than English, I have taken Business Studies, Accounting and Math as all of these subjects are equally important for my future as an international business manager. Solving math problems has taught me perseverance which is a critical trait that will help me work towards my goals with a calm and clear head. Accounting has of course developed my practical skills, whereas Business Studies has increased my knowledge about the way things go about in the business profession. I highly believe that I am the perfect candidate for the International Business Trade/Management course offered by your university. I enjoy traveling to different places and