Video Games Essay Example

There are 3 main ethical concerns with computer games; they are addiction, aggression, and maladjustment. Addiction in that gamers are susceptible to becoming addicted to video games where addiction can be loosely defined as a compulsive need for habit-forming behavior having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects, based on the definition in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Aggression in that many video games are violent which can lead to gamers having violent thoughts, tendencies, and actions. Maladjustment in that gamers can become socially and cognitively maladjusted due to prioritizing games over their studies and real-life relationships (friends, families, etc.,) this being closely tied to addiction which can be perceived as a negative feedback loop as well as being particularly harmful to young kids and adolescents who have developing brains. These arguments are not persuasive. I will explain one-by-one where I see flaws in these arguments.

Firstly, in regard to addiction: it is possible for humans to become addicted to anything and unlike addictive substances such cigarettes and narcotics, video games do not cause addiction in “everyone” who plays them on a regular basis. Then, it is fairer to say video games are not addictive in-and-of themselves, rather people can become addicted to them. This is a flaw in individuals and their relationship with video games. I think it is also worth noting the video games are a recreational activity that have a negative connotation due to the public perception of them. People do not call someone who practices violin 5 hours a day “addicted to violin” or someone who practices hockey 5 hours a day “addicted to hockey”, but people would likely call someone who plays Call of Duty 5 hours a day addicted. This is likely because Video Game careers are a recent development and a new medium. So, older generations who grew up in a world without them would label someone who plays them for extended durations addicted, rather than a disconnect of what people view as hobbies.

Secondly, in regard to aggression. I will first address the fact that this argument has mixed evidence backing it. Apart from that, A lot of video games sold today have a great deal of violence in them, such as Doom and Call of Duty, these games sell copies in the 10’s of millions. Although it is true that not everyone who buys a copy of a video game plays it, it is safe to say the majority do. Then as the number of consumers increases it is natural that people with violent tendencies and people who play video game would overlap, in the same way that everyone who has murdered another has also drunk water before. This does not mean that water causes violence. As for actions in video games affecting actions in real life, for example killing people in video games making someone kill people in real life, makes little sense because people are well aware of the difference between the fantasy depicted in a game and the real world. 

Thirdly, in regard to maladjustment. This would be a concern if someone only played video games and did nothing or little else, such as in the case of addictions. I have already addressed this concern in my second paragraph (the one addressing addiction). However, video games exist primarily as a form of entertainment and should be viewed as such. It is then up to the individual to maintain other parts of their lives (such as personal social relationships, work, or school). As video games do not inherently cause addiction, rather only happiness in the context of a hobby or career, it is then also up to the individual to seek out social relationships, work, and academic excellence based on their own initiative. Other similar examples of this would be students skipping school to watch a movie or skateboarding, their academic failures would not be a result of the movie theatre or the skate park, rather their own decision to prioritize entertainment over work.