The DOI matches its Crossref record; 118 of the 119 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Twenty-Five Years of Research on Violence in Digital Games and Aggression: Empirical Evidence, Perspectives, and a Debate Gone Astray
Abstract
Violence in digital games has been a source of controversy in the scientific community and general public. Over two decades of research have examined this issue. However, much of this research has been undercut by methodological limitations and ideological statements that go beyond what scientific evidence could support. We review 25 years of experimental, cross-sectional, longitudinal, and meta-analytical research in this field. Empirical evidence regarding the impact of violent digital games on player aggression is, at best, mixed and cannot support unambiguous claims that such games are harmful or represent a public health crisis. Rather, indulgence in such claims risked damage to the credibility of games effects research, credibility which can only be restored through better empirical research and more conservative and careful statements by scholars. We encourage the field to engage in a responsible dialog and constructive debate that could continue to be enriching and invigorating.
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“our review of the literature made it clear that there is a high level of methodological flexibility in the ways that aggression outcomes and violent gaming are assessed [46,75]”
From Violent video game engagement is not associated with adolescents' aggressive behaviour: evidence from a registered report (2019) · cites this paper as [46]
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Cites
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Video game play is positively correlated with well-being
Johannes, N., Vuorre, M., & Przybylski, A. K. (2021) · Royal Society Open Science · doi:10.1098/rsos.202049 · Cited by 330
The Sisyphean Cycle of Technology Panics
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Competence-impeding electronic games and players' aggressive feelings, thoughts, and behaviors
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Pornography Consumption and Satisfaction: A Meta-Analysis: Pornography and Satisfaction
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Metadata
- Authors
- Elson, M., & Ferguson, C. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Münster (DE)
- Stetson University (US)
- Venue
- European Psychologist
- Publisher
- Hogrefe Publishing Group
- Published
- 2014-01-01
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 33-46
- ISSN
- 1016-9040 (ISSN-L)
- 1878-531X
- OpenAlex
- W2116610197
- Cited by
- 237
- References
- 119
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 44 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 12
- FWCI
- 31.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Psychologist (publishedVersion)
- Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Digital Games and Media
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- violent video games, aggression, video games, media influence, research credibility, methodological limitations
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