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Understanding the effects of violent video games on violent crime

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  • Cunningham, A. Scott
  • Engelstätter, Benjamin
  • Ward, Michael R.

Abstract

Psychological studies invariably find a positive relationship between violent video game play and aggression. However, these studies cannot account for either aggressive effects of alternative activities video game playing substitutes for or the possible selection of relatively violent people into playing violent video games. That is, they lack external validity. We investigate the relationship between the prevalence of violent video games and violent crimes. Our results are consistent with two opposing effects. First, they support the behavioral effects as in the psychological studies. Second, they suggest a larger voluntary incapacitation effect in which playing either violent or non-violent games decrease crimes. Overall, violent video games lead to decreases in violent crime.

Suggested Citation

  • Cunningham, A. Scott & Engelstätter, Benjamin & Ward, Michael R., 2011. "Understanding the effects of violent video games on violent crime," ZEW Discussion Papers 11-042, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:11042
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lars H. Andersen & Anne Sofie Tegner Anker & Signe Hald Andersen, 2016. "A formal decomposition of declining youth crime in Denmark," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 35(44), pages 1303-1316.
    2. La Ferrara, Eliana & DellaVigna, Stefano, 2015. "Economic and Social Impacts of the Media," CEPR Discussion Papers 10667, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Changsok Yoo & Yelim Kim & Jee Hoon Sohn, 2021. "Evaluating the Social Cost of Conflict between New Media and Society: The Case of Gaming Disorder in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Choi, Jaeyong & Yun, Ilhong & Lee, Julak, 2022. "Television watching as a routine activity: New evidence involving the relationship between television watching and delinquency," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Video Games; Violence; Crime;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D0 - Microeconomics - - General
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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