Video game playing and its relations with aggressive and prosocial behaviour

Publication Type  Journal Article
Year of Publication  1998
Authors  Wiegman, O.; van Schie, E. G. M.
Journal Title  British Journal of Social Psychology
Volume  37
Pagination  367-378
ISBN Number  0144-6665
Accession Number  ISI:000075639800007
Key Words  TELEVISION VIOLENCE; ADOLESCENCE; PERSONALITY; CHILDREN
Abstract  

In this study of 278 children from the seventh and eighth grade of five elementary schools in Enschede, The Netherlands, the relationship between the amount of time children spent on playing video games and aggressive as well as prosocial behaviour was investigated. In addition, the relationship between the preference for aggressive video games and aggressive and prosocial behaviour was studied. No significant relationship was found between video game use in general and aggressive behaviour, but a significant negative relationship with prosocial behaviour was supported. However, separate analyses for boys and girls did not reveal this relationship. More consistent results were found for the preference for aggressive video games: children, especially boys, who preferred aggressive video games were more aggressive and showed less prosocial behaviour than those with a low preference for these games. Further analyses showed that children who preferred playing aggressive video games tended to be less intelligent.


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