Science Fair Projects on Violent Video Games

Science Fair Projects on Violent Video Games

Jeffrey
11th Grade - Age 16
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
Runner-Up award of $25 gift certificate at AllPosters.comwhere they have amazing science posters.

This science fair project was inspired by my mother’s concern about me playing violent video games. Her objection made me wonder if there are gender differences in response to violence. Since completing this project, my mother doesn’t worry about me playing these mature video games.

Abstract

The stress response or “fight or flight” response is a physical mechanism in the nervous system that allows an organism to respond to threats in its environment. Given the abundance of media violence in our culture, this study addressed the question of whether media violence on film triggered the stress response. The hypothesis proposed that men and women would initially react differently to media violence, but that both groups would eventually become desensitized to repeated exposure.

Equal numbers of healthy adult males and females were chosen. Blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate were monitored as a measure of the stress response. Subjects were shown three violent film clips, during which fearful feelings and vital signs were recorded. Results showed that there are different psychological and physical responses based on gender. Women reported more fear to media violence than men. Both groups showed measurable physical responses to watching violence, but women responded more strongly than men in the study.

Males and females also differed in their reaction to repeated violence exposure. Men became more desensitized and relaxed while women became more reactive with repeated exposure. Further studies are needed to determine the significance of these findings. If the results can be verified, then these findings can be added to the growing body of knowledge about gender differences.

These results may in part explain why adult men are drawn to watching violent sports as a way of physically relaxing. Conversely, the stronger stress response of women may help to explain why women have a higher incidence of anxiety related illnesses due to violence, such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Furthermore, although the literature has revealed that media violence is harmful to children, it would be important to also test this hypothesis in children to see if the stress responses is also triggered.

Hypothesis

I hypothesize that women have a stronger psychological and physical stress response to violence than men, but that after repeated exposure, that responses of both groups will lessen as they become desensitized to repeated viewing of violence.

Research Paper

The Physical and Psychological Effects of Watching Media Violence

Violence is pervasive in American media. It is estimated that 60% of television material contains violent images and information. Studies have determined that during their school years children witness 180,000 TV murders, rapes, assaults, and armed robberies. Concerns about the negative effects of prolonged exposure to violent media prompted the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Medical Association to conclude that violent television has an adverse effect on society and causes aggression in children. There have even been congressional hearings to legislate what is appropriate material to be viewed by TV and film audiences. But what exactly are the physical and psychological effects of media violence on an individual? What studies have been done and can these effects be measured?

To begin to understand the effects of media violence, one must understand the concept of stress. Stress, as defined by engineers, describes how forces put a strain on an object. In 1936, Hans Selye adopted the term stress to describe the impact of various “noxious agents” on a biological organism. Selye believed that many different factors can put strain on an organism leading to the same phenomenon of stress. In addition, the term stress response refers to the series of neurological and hormonal events that affect the brain and body.

During the 1960’s, John Mason studied the stress response by measuring stress levels when patients were subjected to various stressors. Mason determined that the stress response was more likely triggered by situations that were perceived as novel or unpredictable. Other studies have revealed that the most important factor in determining a stress reaction was the individual’s sense of control over the situation. This would explain why studies have show that up to 30% of elderly people have higher levels of stress hormones. For this population, coping with chronic illness, loss of loved ones, and lack of sense of control increases stress.

Keep reading this science fair project at science fair projects on media violence.

Science Fair Project Idea: Why not do super science fair projects about specific games to see which ones raise your blood pressure?