Cultivation Theory & Video Game Violence

[SmokyOwl]

Would I not be as good as a shot with a rifle had it not been for my gaming addiction? Probably. Did it turn me into a murderous swine? No. There's more to violent behavior than just videogames and television.

[ivavivian]

@SmokyOwl Experts estimate that only 5-15% of violent crimes is affected by media (tv, video games...). That means that there is more to violent behavior, of course. Also, only app. one tenth of people is prone to violence, therefore the rest is probably not affected by media this way. But that does not mean that it is not a problem...

[WarriorBoy]

Good editing, and I know many of these are not your points but rather things you've researched and put into the video, but I have a problem with a lot of what's brought up.

-Video games can't possibly train children in the use of firearms. The noise, kickback, weight of the weapon, safety mechanisms and aiming differential can't be covered by a video game. There are simply too many factors about real world firearm usage that a game cannot cover.

[WarriorBoy]

@WarriorBoy continuing on: the Cultivation Theory is absurd. It claims that TV viewing can change the viewer's perception of reality, but can't anything? If you were poor all your life and never left the ghetto, I believe you'd start to develop "Mean World Syndrome" just as quickly.

Reality is perceived and experienced individually, and multiple things affect this perception for each human being. TV will not affect your perception of reality as much as losing a loved one, for example.

[WarriorBoy]

@topspinsam: I never said that Cultivation Theory exclusively claims that only TV influences our perception. If you look at my comment, it's actually about video games, which the entire video relates to.

But the real point being that any perception of social norms gleaned from playing video games a child will always be overridden by parenting and nurture, either bad or good.

Real-life experiences will always speak to someone more than what they perceive in the media.

[topspinsam]

@WarriorBoy You know what's funny is that cultivation theory was not intended to be applied to video games. It was created to explain television. Many people try to apply it to all sorts of areas. Ex internet, video games, cellphones... The theory was not intended for this. I really enjoy first person shooters and I don't find them affecting me.

[WarriorBoy]

@topspinsam: Well if that is indeed the case about Cultivation Theory, then it makes the message of this video and what it's trying to say even more false than it already was.

When Columbine happened, there were some anti-violence in media groups that attempted to use theories like these to explain why it happened, using the video games Kleibold and Harris played as evidence, which is total horsecrap because the majority of shooter players and other violent vids are normal people.

[topspinsam]

@WarriorBoy Cultivation theory does not argue that only TV influences our perception of reality. It does argue that TV does influence our perception of what the norms of society are. Before television, religion, family, school, etc... use to play this major role. Now television, in many cases, plays that role. However, if you do some research on the subject the original theory has been criticized in studies and proposed changes have been made.

[samyamgk]

tnx was gr8

[StephenWoods69]

This is a very thought provoking video and I was wondering if you could point me to the Harvard professors books as I'd be interested in reading more.

[mpdivo]

I've never seen communication theory this interesting!

[pso3c]

Really good video!!! congratulations, it was very useful and its very well produced. It contains the content very easy to understand.

[Kamonesis]

Good use of Metal Gear Solid.

[hoose5286]

great video sums up cultivation theory nice.  Maybe include a follow up video exploring this issue more in depth but includes all the core assumptions of cultivation and i think video games have a greater impact than tv in the cultivation affect

[ATOMvic]

An interesting clip. Pretty slickly made.