Playing Violent Video and Computer Games and Adolescent Self-Concept

Adolescents are primary consumers of video and computer games, and the games they prefer are often violent. Related research suggests that exposure to media violence may affect attitudes and behavior. Self‐concept is a key indicator of core attitudes and coping abilities, particularly in adolescents...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of communication 1996-04, Vol.46 (2), p.19-32
Main Authors: Funk, Jeanne B., Buchman, Debra D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Aggressiveness
Attitudes
Children & youth
College students
Computer & video games
Computer Games
Computers
Electronic games
Games
Gender
Higher Education
Influence
Inventory
Media Research
Perceptions
Psychopathology
Realism
Self Concept
Self Esteem
Self image
Sex Differences
Sexes
Social research
Sociology
Sociology of knowledge and sociology of culture
Sociology of leisure and mass culture
Teenagers
Video Games
Videos
Violence
Virtual reality
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Summary:Adolescents are primary consumers of video and computer games, and the games they prefer are often violent. Related research suggests that exposure to media violence may affect attitudes and behavior. Self‐concept is a key indicator of core attitudes and coping abilities, particularly in adolescents. This study documents current adolescent electronic game‐playing habits, and explores associations among preference for violent games, frequency and location of play, and self‐concept. Multivariate analyses identify marked gender differences in game‐playing habits and in scores on the Harter Self‐perception Profile for Adolescents. For girls, more time playing video or computer games is associated with lower Harter scores on six subscales, including self‐esteem.
ISSN:0021-9916
1460-2466
DOI:10.1111/j.1460-2466.1996.tb01472.x