Journal article
Null Effects of Game Violence, Game Difficulty, and 2D:4D Digit Ratio on Aggressive Behavior
Psychological science, Vol.30(4), pp.606-616
04/01/2019
DOI: 10.1177/0956797619829688
PMID: 30843758
Abstract
Researchers have suggested that acute exposure to violent video games is a cause of aggressive behavior. We tested this hypothesis by using violent and nonviolent games that were closely matched, collecting a large sample, and using a single outcome. We randomly assigned 275 male undergraduates to play a first-person-shooter game modified to be either violent or less violent and hard or easy. After completing the game-play session, participants were provoked by a confederate and given an opportunity to behave aggressively. Neither game violence nor game difficulty predicted aggressive behavior. Incidentally, we found that 2D:4D digit ratio, thought to index prenatal testosterone exposure, did not predict aggressive behavior. Results do not support acute violent-game exposure and low 2D:4D ratio as causes of aggressive behavior.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Null Effects of Game Violence, Game Difficulty, and 2D:4D Digit Ratio on Aggressive Behavior
- Creators
- Joseph Hilgard - Illinois State UniversityChristopher R Engelhardt - 3 TabaStats Analytics, Columbia, MissouriJeffrey N Rouder - University of California, IrvineInes L Segert - University of MissouriBruce D Bartholow - University of Missouri
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Psychological science, Vol.30(4), pp.606-616
- DOI
- 10.1177/0956797619829688
- PMID
- 30843758
- NLM abbreviation
- Psychol Sci
- ISSN
- 0956-7976
- eISSN
- 1467-9280
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/01/2019
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984446271402771
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