Violent games help people relax

Wed Apr 9, 2008 4:45PM EDT

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Playing online role-playing games is exhausting, and according to one research, it may actually help people feel more relax and less angry. Psychologists at Middlesex University studied 292 male and female online gamers, between the ages of twelve and eighty-three years of age, and came to the conclusion that people's level of relaxation increased after playing World of WarCraft (WoW), which is known to be an addictive game.

Gamers were asked to fill out a questionnaire that gave researchers some insight into their level of anger, aggression, and personality before and after a two-hour gaming session. Jane Barnette, who lead the study, said gamers experienced higher levels of relaxation after playing the game as opposed to anger, which is a common misconception attributed to those who play violent video games. Researchers hope this study will help them develop a gaming questionnaire that could help them identify the personality type that's more likely to transfer their online aggression into everyday life.

The effect violent video games has on gamers has been widely debatable, and some countries including the United States, Britain, and Australia have tried to ban the sale of violent video games. Stephen King recently spoke out about such bans saying that games only reflected a violence that already existed in society, and that parents should be responsible for monitoring their children's entertainment, not politicians.

Related:

Horror writer King blasts banning violent video games (Reuters)

 

Comments on Violent games help people relax

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  • 2 Posted by alpyne2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    In an earlier day we played sports, rode bikes, played army with dirt-clod grenades, etc. Whatever works is fine for relieving stress. Some people can't handle violent games appropriately and should be doing something else - for most of us that isn't a problem. Doing an activity that takes your mind off the cares & concerns of the day results in less stress, better sleep, and a better day tomorrow.

  • 3 Posted by meganmckechnie on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    i can tell you that it relaxes me-there's nothing like like running around in a war game destroying your enemies or playing a agent in condemned and using your fists to beat down drug addicts and mutated meanies.for me,it's a kind of therapy!

  • 4 Posted by matt_archbold2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    Nothing like unwinding after work by sniping a guy 300 yards away with your Barrett .50 Cal in Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. I do sometimes play a few matches when i get off work if i dont have anything else going on. It helps you releve some of that stress and forget about whatever was going on at work.

  • 5 Posted by n_johnson67 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    agreed, it helps all stress problems with me, right after work im tired and just looking foward to playing role playing games such as wow. very relaxing

  • 6 Posted by mickeyen2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yep! it sure does relaxes me well, really well. Though depending on the kind of violent or role playing game. And as long as you are well able to "balance" your game tasks and gaming duration, no problem! And for the fact that some games are quite extremely TASKING, you really do need to top-up the health bar of your "balancing" thats if you are the busy type; because such excess time duration can be plugged in for other benefiting activities. In any case, ensure that you have fun adequately cos thats the base line. So let the game worlds keep coming.... While We keep conquering... As we reload our PLAY ammo. GAMER FOR LIFE!

  • 7 Posted by crackdogv on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    i know someone that lost weight playing Final Fantasy XI (the same thing as WoW but based on Final fantasy stories and was created a few years before WoW) because he wasnt constantly eatting anymore because he was focused on the game... they are fun, they pass time, they help u forget any stressful moments that occurred in the workplace or school etc that day. or at least help deter the stress into fun action

  • 8 Posted by saint_hack300 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with King. It's not the games that create the violence, it has to do what the person playing thinks they can do and puts it to the test. On the other hand, did we really need a research team to find this information out? I believe that all games that has to do with beating someone or killing or RPGs can help you relax. It takes your mind off of plenty of things like that annoying boss or something like that. Always fun and entertaining.

  • 9 Posted by mikebreedyk@rogers.com on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think that what is potentially worrisome is when kids or people grow up on violence. As an adult I believe that, while it may not be beneficial for me, playing a violent video game for a reasonable time can be fun, and I can deal with it. I think that a potential problem exists when you have chidren playing these games that are amazingly realistic now, for hours and hours on end, so much so that it warps their reality. I believe that, whether indirectly or directly, this warped reality, caused by video games, television, and movies, is what is causing the massive increase in violent crime among teenagers. But who cares? It doesn't affect me right?

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