Violent Video Games, Delinquency, and Youth Violence: New Evidence. (April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: DeLisi, Matt; Vaughn, Michael G.; Gentile, Douglas A.; Anderson, Craig A.; Shook, Jeffrey J.
• Is Part Of: Youth violence and juvenile justice. Volume 11:Number 2(2013)
• Page Start: 132
• Page End: 142
• Publication Date: 2013-04
• Subjects: violent video games -- delinquency -- violence -- media -- psychopathy; Youth and violence -- United States -- Periodicals; Juvenile justice, Administration of -- United States -- Periodicals; Juvenile delinquency -- United States -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Juvenile corrections -- United States -- Periodicals; 364.360973
• DOI: 10.1177/1541204012460874
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1541-2040

Abstract

Violent video game playing is correlated with aggression, but its relation to antisocial behavior in correctional and juvenile justice samples is largely unknown. Based on a data from a sample of institutionalized juvenile delinquents, behavioral and attitudinal measures relating to violent video game playing were associated with a composite measure of delinquency and a more specific measure of violent delinquency after controlling for the effects of screen time, years playing video games, age, sex, race, delinquency history, and psychopathic personality traits. Violent video games are associated with antisociality even in a clinical sample, and these effects withstand the robust influences of multiple correlates of juvenile delinquency and youth violence most notably psychopathy.