Literature Review

Sherwin, 2007 states that players of violent video games claim that ‘they recognize the difference between brutality meted out on screen and violence in real life’. Sherwin, 2007 also states that a survey found that ‘age limits on gory games are ignored by parents’. White, 2005 has a quote from a Rockstar spokesman which argues that ‘more and more people recognize that the stories in video games have as many themes and plot lines as books and movies. Just as books aren’t judged by their covers, video games shouldn’t be judged by their titles or individual scenes’. However it was found that in one of the grand theft auto games there were hidden sex scenes hidden within the game which can be accessed by children. There was another case were a Rockstar game ,manhunt, was taken off the shelf in many local shops because ‘Stefan Pakeerah, 14, from Leicester, was beaten with a claw hammer and stabbed repeatedly. His parents blamed the game because their sons killer was a frequent player, in the game, players can earn points for their character committing murders’. Patterson 1989 states that ‘early starting aggression has important consequences for both juvenile and adult anti social behavior and stresses the importance of early training in aversive behavior.

Refereances
Sherwin, A. 2007 “they’re disturbing and addictive, but ‘game violence is no threat’; Factbox. (Home news)” [Internet] http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/catalogue/search_results.html?doc_number=027365266 [26.10.09]

White, A. 2005 “Computer game lets children play the bully” [Internet]
http://libweb .anglia.ac.uk/catalogue/search_results.html?doc_number=027365275
[26.10.09]

Patterson et al. 1989 “Human Aggression, Second Edition”. Russell G. Green. “Aggression in Life and Society”.