Violent Video Games Lead to More Violence in Society

Technological advances have led to a heightened realism in video games, and new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a majority of adults believe the violence portrayed on the screen leads to more violence off the screen.

Slightly more than half (54%) say violent video games leads to more violence in our society. Just 27% disagree, while another 19% are not sure.

More women than men believe video game violence leads to more violence by a nearly 20-point margin. Older adults are more likely to agree that video game violence influences violence in society than younger adults.

An overwhelming majority (72%) say parents are responsible for limiting the amount of sex and violence children are exposed to. Only 15% place this responsibility on video game makers, while even less (7%) say it’s the government’s job to regulate this area.

Adults with children at home are more likely than those without children to feel parents should be held responsible for limiting the amount of sex and violence children are exposed to.

Although a majority of adults feel it’s the responsibility of parents to regulate exposure to sex and violence, the plurality (44%) believes the makers of violent video games should be held liable in court if it can be shown that their games led to someone committing a violent act.

Nearly as many (41%) say video game makers should not be held liable in the court of law, and another 15% are not sure.

Again, women feel more strongly than men on this issue. Younger adults are less inclined to agree with this statement than their elders.

Seventy-four percent (74%) are at least somewhat concerned about the level of violence in many video games today, including 47% who are very concerned. Just 22% are not very or not at all concerned about violence in video games, with only six percent (6%) who are not at all concerned.

Eighty-eight percent (88%) of adults believe children are being exposed to more sex and violence today than they were 25 years ago. Seven percent (7%) do not feel this is true.

Do you think violent video games contribute to youth violence?

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/april_2010/54_say_violent_video_games_lead_to_more_violence_in_society