Effects of Violent Video Games on Aggressive Behavior, Aggressive Cognition, Aggressive Affect, Physiological Arousal, and Prosocial Behavior: A Meta-Analytic Review of the Scientific Literature

2001/09/01 by Craig A. Anderson, Brad J. Bushman · 13 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · Neuroscience · #Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression #Child Development and Digital Technology #Impact of Technology on Adolescents #Prosocial behavior #Psychology #Aggression #Video game #Arousal #Affect (linguistics) #Cognition #Poison control #Feeling #Human factors and ergonomics #Injury prevention #Developmental psychology #Social psychology #Multimedia #Neuroscience #Communication #Medical emergency

paper · doi:10.1111/1467-9280.00366

openalex publication_date 2001/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

Research on exposure to television and movie violence suggests that playing violent video games will increase aggressive behavior. A metaanalytic review of the video-game research literature reveals that violent video games increase aggressive behavior in children and young adults. Experimental and nonexperimental studies with males and females in laboratory and field settings support this conclusion. Analyses also reveal that exposure to violent video games increases physiological arousal and aggression-related thoughts and feelings. Playing violent video games also decreases prosocial behavior.

Citations

• Social Learning Theory of Aggression
• Video games and aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behavior in the laboratory and in life.

Cited by

• The Influence of Media Violence on Youth
• Media violence and the American public: Scientific facts versus media misinformation.
• Violent Video Games and Hostile Expectations: A Test of the General Aggression Model
• The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance
• Implicit violent imagery processing among fans and non-fans of music with violent themes
• Linkages Between Internet and Other Media Violence With Seriously Violent Behavior by Youth
• Firsthand Learning Through Intent Participation
• Virtual harms and real responsibility
• Can Exergaming Contribute to Improving Physical Activity Levels and Health Outcomes in Children?
• Sex Differences in Video Game Play:
• Korean Children’s YouTube Use and Social Skills: A Linkage Analysis with Negative Interactions in Favorite YouTube Content
• An Exploratory Study of Code Smells in Web Games
• Bobo doll experiment [wikipedia]
• Game studies [wikipedia]