Research has demonstrated a link between screen violence and real-world aggression, both in traditional media like violent movies and in newer media including first-person shooter games. Minimizing exposure to virtual violence will not completely eliminate acts of aggression, but it is an important strategy to investigate, according to experts who presented a session on the topic at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Scientists, pediatricians, clinicians, and advocates of reducing media violence gathered for a state-of-the-art plenary session. Leading researchers discussed the ongoing controversy about the role that screen violence plays in real-world aggression, and ways to address the public health implications.
"Exposure to media violence in all forms increases the risk of real-world aggression," said plenary chair, Dimitri Christakis, MD, MPH, FAAP, of Seattle Children's Research Institute. "The recent epidemic of mass shootings and latest Supreme Court ruling striking down a California law banning the sale of mature video games to minors is disturbing, and the reason why additional research is critical in understanding the existing evidence."
Topics and presenters include:
- "Overview of Violence and Children," presented by Frederick P. Rivara, Seattle Children's Hospital
- "Video Game Violence," presented by Craig A. Anderson, Iowa State University
- "Screen Violence," presented by Dimitri Alexander Christakis, Seattle Children;s Research Institute