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Upcoming Book Blasts the "Violent Video Game Hype"
Dr. Cheryl Olson of the Massachusetts General Hospital hopes to give parents a real world understanding of the violent video game studies seen so highly sensationalized in the media.
Olson's book, Grand Theft Childhood, is intended for the "parents, teachers, and policy makers" as a way to understand the real pros and cons of violent video games and cut through the "myths and hysteria" so often portrayed in the media. From Gamecouch's interview:
Until now, the most-publicized studies came from a small group of experimental psychologists, studying college students playing nonviolent or violent games for 15 minutes. It's debatable whether those studies are relevant to real children, playing self-selected games for their own reasons (not for cash or extra credit!), in social settings, over many years. But media reports and political rhetoric often ignore that distinction.
Olson gathered many things from the research we gamers consider common knowledge: children know games aren't reality, games are great for expelling anger (not creating it), and that both boys and girls play these games.
While many of us gamers know about these things, a book like this a great thing to give to the parents of a gamer. I'd also recommend Steven Johnson's excellent Everything Bad is Good for You for more understand of the effects of video games and modern popular culture.
Grand Theft Childhood is scheduled to be released on April 15, 2008.
Man. I could save the parents that read this a lot of time and money.
Dear Parent,
Pay attention to your kids. A TV is not a babysitter. A computer is not a babysitter. If you want your kids to learn values, you need to teach it to them.
-Lego (parent)
It's good so see a counterpoint to Thompson and his ilk getting publicity.
Posted by Brandonazz at March 4, 2008 4:43 PMI will be picking this up right away. "How Computer Games Help Children Learn," is another book that touches on this topic (although its not directly related it does have crossovers), and although I haven't read any of his books yet James Paul Gee is suppose to know a thing or two about violent video games and children.
And on a side note I would love if Gaming Steve could get someone to review or just do a news post about video game related books (I have probably read over 50 but its hard to find the good ones from the bad). Maybe it could be a weekly or bi-weekly article.
Posted by Corey at March 4, 2008 6:47 PMTo all who buy this book,
I am a college student and i see that there is no relevance between children and college students. College students are CRAZY, how can u compare college students to children. Sure we are grown up but you have to understand college students are usually 18+ and we do some crazy stuff. But truly for all you parents you need to pay attention to what you children watch and play. You cannot give a 12 year old GOD OF WAR. This is why we have the Game grading you know they don't just put "M for mature" on the box for nothing. Parents don't let your 13 year old play violent games if you know that they have anger issues.
Thank You Steve(not gaming Steve) Costalas
Posted by Stephen (not gaming steve) at March 5, 2008 1:35 PMa book like this a great thing to give to the parents of a gamer. I'd also recommend Steven Johnson's excellent Everything Bad is Good for You for more understand of the effects of video games and modern popular culture. What an interesting way to get people interested in reading! Book trailers are like movie trailers, but for books! You can find them all over the internet now, but here is a site that's featuring them on YouTube.
Posted by Daniel daniel at March 15, 2008 10:22 AMPlease keep your comments relevant to this entry: inappropriate or purely promotional comments may be removed. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.