Deciding to defect: The effects of video-game violence on cooperative behavior

Publication Type  Journal Article
Year of Publication  2005
Authors  Sheese, B. E.; Graziano, W. G.
Journal Title  Psychological Science
Volume  16
Pagination  354-357
ISBN Number  0956-7976
Accession Number  ISI:000228750400002
Key Words  aggressive-behavior; prosocial behavior
Abstract  

This experiment examined the effect of video-game violence on cooperative decision making. Participants (N= 48) were randomly assigned to play either a violent or a nonviolent version of the video game Doom (TM) in dyads. Following the video-game task, participants were separated and given an opportunity to choose to cooperate with their partner for mutual gain, withdraw from the interaction, or exploit their partner for their own benefit. Participants in the violent condition were significantly more likely to choose to exploit their partners than participants in the nonviolent condition. These findings suggest that playing violent video games may undermine prosocial motivation and promote exploitive behavior in social interactions.

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