Home Gaming Study: Incompetence – not violence – leads to aggression

Study: Incompetence – not violence – leads to aggression

2 min read
53

Hammer Tiem

We keep hearing of studies by academics telling us that the violence inherent in the videogames we play have led to a generation of very angry, very aggressive people. We level-headed gamers, of course, know otherwise. A new study from the Oxford Internet Institute looks to redress the popular opinion – and has approached the problem in a rather interesting manner.

Where most studies of this ilk pit something overtly violent, such as Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto against something without wanton death like Tetris, and then compare the results this study used modified and unmodified versions of Half-Life 2. Participants were given either version, and over a series of six separate studies were monitored for aggression.

The modified Half-Life 2 did away with death, having players instead mark targets who would vanish out of thin air. Participants playing the regular version of Half-Life 2 could shoot people as they pleased. Interestingly, some were given a tutorial before play, while others went in blind.

Researchers found that most aggression was found in those who had no clue what the heck they were doing.

“We focused on the motives of people who play electronic games and found players have a psychological need to come out on top when playing,” said Oxford Internet Institute’s Dr Przybylski.

“If players feel thwarted by the controls or the design of the game, they can wind up feeling aggressive.

“This need to master the game was far more significant than whether the game contained violent material.

Much more research, they say, is necessary.

“Players of games without any violent content were still feeling pretty aggressive if they hadn’t been able to master the controls or progress through the levels at the end of the session.”

The study’s co-author Prof Richard Ryan, from the University of Rochester, said:

“The study is not saying that violent content doesn’t affect gamers, but our research suggests that people are not drawn to playing violent games in order to feel aggressive.

“Rather, the aggression stems from feeling not in control or incompetent while playing.

“If the structure of a game or the design of the controls thwarts enjoyment, it is this not the violent content that seems to drive feelings of aggression.”

Like most of these studies, it doesn’t really tell us much – but it’s nice to see different, more nuanced methods and ways of tacking the question of violence’s measure in videogames.

“There’s a need for researchers who are interested in these questions not just to pull two video games off the shelf from the high street,” said Przybylski.

“We need to have a more sophisticated approach so we’re all reading from the same experimental methods.”

Last Updated: April 8, 2014

53 Comments

  1. Black Mage [Umar]

    April 8, 2014 at 12:06

    ROFLOL!!! I guess Dark Souls is the cause of many gamers going ape shit crazy….It’s true though. I almost broke my phone this weekend. I mean I got to the Gargoyles in DS 2, I was like cool. This is just like DS 1, 2 Gargoyles ain’t got shit on this homie….Nope….not at all. I was wrong. 5 Gargoyles was enough to make me cry and throw my controller which landed on my phone….

    Reply

    • Rince

      April 8, 2014 at 12:12

      You finished the second yet?

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Space

        April 8, 2014 at 12:15

        Is that what she said?

        😛

        Reply

      • Black Mage [Umar]

        April 8, 2014 at 12:27

        Not at all. Nowhere near done. You need to play this game man. Seriously good

        Reply

        • Rince

          April 8, 2014 at 12:32

          I do bro. But playing Sleeping Dogs atm. Then Red Dead, then Spec Ops, Then Skyrim,. So I have a few weeks set aside in 2019 to get my Dark Souls 2 on 😉

          Reply

          • Black Mage [Umar]

            April 8, 2014 at 12:33

            Skyrim???Damn , enjoy Dark Souls 2 in 2050

  2. Rince

    April 8, 2014 at 12:06

    Well… This ‘incompetence’ explains OVG’s Rage *RUNS

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Space

      April 8, 2014 at 12:07

      Oh snap!

      Reply

      • Rince

        April 8, 2014 at 12:08

        I fear he probably will 0-o I just worry what part of me…

        Reply

  3. Admiral Chief in Space

    April 8, 2014 at 12:06

    Agreed. I got a silly game (called Eversion) the other day. Basically a Mario clone, but with some twists. Now the only death in the game is jumping on mushroom type enemies (hence Mario clone)

    My rage basically was incurred by frustration in some controls and my own inability to do certain things.

    In no way did I feel violent towards the mushroom people type things, but rather due to my ignorance/frustration/etc to certain gameplay elements and abilities.

    I hope more studies like this take place!

    I too hope that you at least score a certain level on an IQ test and common sense test before you can:
    A. Drive
    B. Pro-create
    C. Drive
    D. Drive ffs

    Reply

    • Rince

      April 8, 2014 at 12:09

      Sadly B is done by those with little to no IQ 🙁

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Space

        April 8, 2014 at 12:10

        Yeah, same mental capacity to wiping your bum means you can pro-create.

        Reply

    • No Longer SIR Twakkus

      April 8, 2014 at 12:21

      Well to be honest, some of the smartest people I have met are the most ignorant.

      Reply

    • Mark Treloar

      April 8, 2014 at 18:25

      E: Purchase a printer and or PC.

      Reply

  4. Captain GUZ

    April 8, 2014 at 12:12

    So basically no violent games for noobs or if its violent have a super easy mode so they dont go bat Sh!t crazy when they keep failing/losing.
    No wonder all those little COD kiddies have such foul mouths

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Space

      April 8, 2014 at 12:15

      LOL.

      Imagine as you level up in the game, the game turns off kiddie mode!

      Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    April 8, 2014 at 12:16

    America is most prone to gun violence and one of the biggest buyers of COD and BF. Just saying

    Reply

    • No Longer SIR Twakkus

      April 8, 2014 at 12:19

      So gun violence is worst than other types of violence?

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        April 8, 2014 at 12:22

        No, but their gun laws are so lax it’s no wonder they have this problem. Plus every time they look into making stricter laws the second amendment gets brought up. An amendment that was introduced when they still fought the British.

        Reply

        • No Longer SIR Twakkus

          April 8, 2014 at 12:35

          I am and always will be pro gun, but I do agree some form of gun control should always be present. How strict that law should be is a different story. Personally I feel each person applying for a weapon should undergo a personality and mental test. Also a law does not necessary lead to anything, as in our country it is sooooo easy to get a weapon illegally. But back to the article, root cause of violence should be research and not the expression thereof. Since treating a symptom does not lead to a cure for the disease.

          Reply

        • Johan du Preez

          April 8, 2014 at 12:43

          The only problem that they have is in the the big cities. Go an try and rob a store or mug someone on the street in the rural towns and you will get shot pretty quickly.

          If you do some research you will find that the Cities that banned gun use like Chicago has got the biggest gun violence figures of most cities in the States.

          There is a simple reason for this and that is that they know the law abiding citizen cant defend them selfs so gun related crime skyrockets. In the rural area’s and cities that allows you to carry a gun there is almost no gun violence.

          The few cases of a law abiding citizen going on a rampage far outweighs the
          few thousand criminals killing people in the areas where gun ownership is banned.

          Reply

          • No Longer SIR Twakkus

            April 8, 2014 at 13:08

            Preach it brother! 😉

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            April 8, 2014 at 13:18

            More guns = more people killed by guns – it’s that simple. A gun is a tool designed to kill – quickly & easily. It’s a false sense of security because of the sense of power it provides. Simply stating more people with guns = more safety is utterly wrong.

            You’re also presuming violence primarily occurs between a criminal & a law abiding person. That is not the case, You’re more likely to be involved in some kind of domestic or civil dispute than a criminal one – and the more people carrying guns around in that situation the higher the probability of guns being used.

          • HvR

            April 8, 2014 at 13:55

            True, a tool is only good tool if you know how to use it (anyone considering getting a firearm for self defense should go for extra courses and practice monthly preferable doing IDPA or IPSC). In a country like SA where it is easier to get a firearm than a Matric I prefer to have one know how to use it and equalize the playing field.

            But less guns DOES NOT EQUAL less people killed and injured. When there are less guns more fists, knives, bats and petrol and matches will be used in domestic and civil disputes.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            April 8, 2014 at 14:25

            It takes more effort to use those than just pointing & the chance of you surviving or being able to fight back are greater, that’s the point I was trying to make. I agree with the training requirement.

          • HvR

            April 8, 2014 at 14:43

            Still depends on the scenario, 3 or 4 vs 1 scenario (the more common SA scenario) you are screwed when unarmed whether they are armed with nothing, screwdrivers, knives or guns.

            The poorest communities in South Africa where they are too poor to own firearms you still get the highest concentration of incidences of murder and assault.

      • Lourens Jordaan

        April 8, 2014 at 12:42

        If guns are more accessible, there is a higher chance of the violence being committed with the use of a gun. In Europe the violent crimes are committed using predominantly melee weapons like knives and hammers because guns are harder to acquire. Personally I’d rather run away from a guy with a hammer than a guy with a gun, don’t you agree?

        The real problem though is not gun violence vs other violence, it is whether violent games increases violent tendencies. The answer is that it does, in the same way as road rage is more prevalent in some people than in others. Some people are more susceptible than others to different stimuli.

        Reply

        • No Longer SIR Twakkus

          April 8, 2014 at 13:04

          See my comment above 🙂 Though I would argue if everyone had a gun, less violence would occur, especially in public. But nevertheless, I agree with your sentiment that that is not the real issue. The issue is that of treating the disease and not the symptom.
          Do you really think it is? Some sports, including rugby is extremely violent, and violence is encourage in them (Boxing, UFC, football, hockey etc). While I do agree the mind is a sponge and we must be vigilant what we soak up, is the greatest deterrent for the expression violence not rather moral and ethical values taught at home? The greatest threat to society is not violent video games and sports such as rugby or even UFC but the degradation of the sound home values.

          Reply

          • HvR

            April 8, 2014 at 13:35

            Lots of studies have shown increase in violence in people that themselves are victims of abuse and not receiving any help (be “classic” abuse, sexual or bullying), drug abuse; brain damage.and their social environment.

            That is why you see lower instances of violence in countries where they practice much higher level of social responsibility and working justice system even when they have very low level of gun control and access to violent/sexual entertainment. (ie Canada and Scandinavian countries)

            But then the society never wants to admit their own failure and wants to blame something else.

          • No Longer SIR Twakkus

            April 8, 2014 at 13:46

            This^^ * 10k. The only threat to society is society self. Like in our government, it will always be someone else fault.

        • HvR

          April 8, 2014 at 13:43

          Problem is with hammer and knives the fitter guy will always win (be he the guy running away or doing the chasing).

          Reply

  6. HvR

    April 8, 2014 at 12:19

    Aaaa the ignorance.

    Watched a series the other day about a “good boy” who got into satanism and brutishly killed another teen.

    The standard long 15 min explanation read the satanic bible, listened to Ozzy and AC/DC bla bla.

    And o yes quick mention, he was doing speed, cocaine, meth, heroin, few prescribed pills and weed AT THE SAME TIME 30 min before the killing.

    Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      April 8, 2014 at 12:24

      Oh it was definitely the Satanism and music that made him do it

      Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

      April 8, 2014 at 13:52

      One could say the Satanism assisted in him starting to take drugs etc which ultimately led him to taking things too far… #justsaying

      Reply

      • HvR

        April 8, 2014 at 13:57

        The prosecutor mentioned in the end of the program that he became involved in satanism as a shock factor after getting involved in drugs.

        EDIT:
        And have yet to met a person who decided to do drugs because they read a book, drug abuse is coupled to drug availability and social circumstance.

        Reply

        • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

          April 8, 2014 at 14:36

          Was just saying lol. Not arguing with you. Just saying it can work both ways 😉

          Reply

          • HvR

            April 8, 2014 at 14:44

            🙂 got it from #justsaying. just decided to give the extra info.

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            April 8, 2014 at 14:55

            hehehehe 🙂

  7. Kensei Seraph

    April 8, 2014 at 12:22

    The game that has caused me to become the most violent is Need For Speed.

    When I lost my temper as a child I would go and play a few rounds of Quake III against bots.
    This would calm me down within 30 minutes.

    Let’s just say I played Quake III quite often.

    Reply

  8. Alien Emperor Trevor

    April 8, 2014 at 12:38

    I can relate. I go mental when my character does something other than what I’ve tried to get him to do & dies. I’m looking at you Prince of Persia & your insatiable need to jump right when I specifically pressed left.

    Reply

  9. Maxiviper117

    April 8, 2014 at 12:59

    For all you PC gamers, search and download this

    DOWNLOAD Required File. (http://120hz.net/hypermatrix/HyperMatrix.zip)
    Password for the file is 120hz.net

    Then open the program and click Maximum.
    And use fraps to check for a performance increase.

    I tried it on minecraft with a shaders mod and it increased the FPS, and it seemed to work with Battliefield 4 as well, Ultra settings, without anti aliasing, keeps well above 60 FPS on a GTX 660 Ti. where before it didnt.

    Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

      April 8, 2014 at 13:44

      Not sure if….

      Reply

      • Maxiviper117

        April 8, 2014 at 15:11

        it worked for me dude, and no it isnt a virus or spam. I stumble upon this while I was looking for mods for crysis 3.

        Reply

        • Rags

          April 8, 2014 at 15:13

          Looks like a mind control virus. 😮

          Reply

          • Maxiviper117

            April 8, 2014 at 15:16

            no it changes the timer resolution of all the applications including games. dont ask me what that is cuz I don’t know, all I know is that it works

  10. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    April 8, 2014 at 13:44

    So I guess Flappy Bird would have caused the end of the world had it not been taken down?

    Reply

  11. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    April 8, 2014 at 13:49

    Well I guess there’s some truth to that. But is it really ground breaking? No. Not really.

    Put me at the controls of a car that doesn’t drive too well, give me a coffee machine that won’t make coffee right because I’m incapable of operating it right and I will get as frustrated, if not more than in a game.

    At least a game allows me to ALT+F4 and move on with my life. Unfortunately there is no ALT+F4 or a CTRL+ALT+DEL for a crappy designed coffee machine 🙁

    Reply

    • Sk3tz0

      April 8, 2014 at 17:48

      There is a better solution.. Cricket.bat

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

        April 8, 2014 at 19:04

        hehehehe. GG dude

        Reply

  12. Rags

    April 8, 2014 at 15:12

    I have a few keyboards with broken feet, thanks to Rugby 08.

    Reply

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