Why do habitual violent video game players believe in the cathartic effects of violent video games? Misconceptions of Mood Improvement as a Reduction in Aggressive Emotions

First published: November 6, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.22005

Commentary

Past research has shown that playing violent video games leads to an increase in aggression, yet many people believe that playing violent games releases aggressive feelings and decreases aggressive behavior.

In another study, video game players found that playing could have a positive impact on their mood. Based on these and the general aggression model and mood management theory, we hypothesized that habitual violent video game players misinterpret the improvement in mood after gameplay as a reduction in aggressive feelings and believe in the cathartic effects of violent video games.

Two studies investigated this reasoning in players' natural habitats, and habitual video game players were surveyed multiple times over two weeks before and after each gaming session.

The results showed that playing video games improved participants' mood and was positively associated with their belief in the cathartic effects of violent video gameplay. Importantly, this relationship was established when controlling for the player's actual level of aggressive emotion.

Study 1 showed that playing violent games tended to increase the level of reported aggressive emotions after playing, while in contrast, in Study 2, the level of reported aggressive emotions was not related to the violence of the game.

Putting the two together, habitual violent video game players (falsely) believe in the cathartic effects of violent video games because they feel better after playing them.