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aggression. The studies included both experimental and correlational studies, with both male and female participants
in both laboratory and field settings. They found that exposure to violent video games is significantly linked to
increases in aggressive thoughts, aggressive feelings, psychological arousal (including blood pressure and heart rate),
as well as aggressive behavior. Furthermore, playing more video games was found to relate to less altruistic behavior.
In one experiment, Bushman and Anderson (2002) [11] assessed the effects of viewing violent video games on
aggressive thoughts and behavior. Participants were randomly assigned to play either a violent or a nonviolent video
game for 20 minutes. Each participant played one of four violent video games (Carmageddon, Duke Nukem, Mortal
Kombat, or Future Cop) or one of four nonviolent video games (Glider Pro, 3D Pinball, Austin Powers, or Tetra
Madness).
Participants then read a story, for instance this one about Todd, and were asked to list 20 thoughts, feelings, and
actions about how they would respond if they were Todd:
Todd was on his way home from work one evening when he had to brake quickly for a yellow light. The
person in the car behind him must have thought Todd was going to run the light because he crashed into the
back of Todd’s car, causing a lot of damage to both vehicles. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Todd got out
of his car and surveyed the damage. He then walked over to the other car.
As you can see in Figure 7.9 "Results From Bushman and Anderson, 2002", the students who had played one of the
violent video games responded much more aggressively to the story than did those who played the nonviolent games.
In fact, their responses were often extremely aggressive. They said things like “Call the guy an idiot,” “Kick the other
driver’s car,” “This guy’s dead meat!” and “What a dumbass!”
Figure 7.9Results From Bushman and Anderson, 2002