What makes gamers aggressive?

We have read studies about how video games have been linked to aggressive behaviour and that playing as a violent black character in a game fuels racism, and both sets of data were taken with a large pinch of salt.

A recent study from Oxford University on the matter of video games and their link to violence and aggression, though, provides new insight into the much hyped about association, and dispels the notion that violent content is the factor behind angry gamers.

This study was compiled by researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Rochester in the US, who carried out tests in which volunteers played both violent and non-violent games.

“Games that were too difficult or where players had trouble mastering controls that were too complicated were the most likely to leave players feeling aggressive afterwards,” the study read.

“There was little difference in the aggression levels of players on games with violent content as compared with those playing non-violent games.”

The volunteers – university students – played games that the researchers manipulated to make more challenging, or used hand controls that were harder to play with.

Overly difficult games, counter-intuitive hand controls, and a lack of practice were significant predictors of aggression among players, and this effect had little to do with whether the game contained violent material or not.

“To date, researchers have tended to explore passive aspects of gaming, such as whether looking at violent material in electronic games desensitises or aggravates players,” said Dr Andrew Przybylski, from the Oxford Internet Institute.

“We focused on the motives of people who play electronic games and found players have a psychological need to come out on top when playing.”

Players were asked how they felt before and after a 20-minute game, agreeing with statements such as “I feel irritated”, “I feel like I am about to explode”, and “I feel friendly”. The players’ ability to master the controls was also measured.

Co-author of the study, Richard Ryan from the University of Rochester, said: “The study is not saying that violent content doesn’t affect gamers, but our research suggests that people are not drawn to playing violent games in order to feel aggressive.”

“Rather, the aggression stems from not feeling in control or feeling incompetent while playing. If the structure of a game or the design of the controls thwarts enjoyment, it is this, not the violent content, that seems to drive feelings of aggression.”

What do you think? Is this a “violence and video games” study that makes sense? Let us know in the comments and forum.