Could THIS videogame cause violence? Options

[*mipadi*]

Links to a bloody new Flash videogame called Border Patrol, whose object is to kill as many illegal immigrants as possible, are making the rounds through e-mail forwards. The game, which comes at a time when U.S. leaders are working to revive a sweeping immigration bill in the Senate, encourages players to kill targets such as a "Mexican nationalist," "drug smuggler" and "breeder" (a pregnant woman with two small children) "at any cost." When a target is killed, blood splatters on the screen. "It's violent and unnecessarily hurtful," says Jack Thompson, a lobbyist against violence in videogames. "We should use public-nuisance laws to shut down this game because it poses a clear and present danger to an entire class of people. Illegal immigration is a real problem, but this game only coarsens that debate."

The game's origin is unknown, but it's been popping up recently on a number of Web sites. "I certainly defend the game," says self-described white supremacist Tom Metzger. "I told a Mexican activist that he better be happy that we're just playing a game on a computer, because the temper of thousands ... is reaching the boiling point." The U.S. Border Patrol has been quick to distance itself from the game. Todd Fraser, a Border Patrol spokesman, says: "The Border Patrol does not condone or encourage violence." Neither should anyone else.[1]

I agree with attempting to use public-nuisance laws to shut down this sort of game. Say what you want about violent videogames—I can easily see this game encouraging violence against immigrants, illegal or legal. What do you think? Could this game incite violence against immigrants?

[*mipadi*]

I've been holding off responding in this thread until I dug up some research on the issue. I spoke to a friend of mine today, who holds a bachelor's degree in pyschology, and has participated in pyschological research. She agreed that the nature of this specific game would trigger violence in persons who already have hatred towards immigrants, because, as I suggested, it sends the message that there are others with hatred towards immigrants; thus, such behavior is "normal" and is allowed or even encouraged within our society.

The effects of violence in videogames and other media is a contested area, but a lot of research suggests that violent videogames do encourage violent behavior. Playing violent videogames does increase physiological arousal, and increases violent thoughts and emotions—in not only young children, but college-age students as well.[1] It can, of course, be argued that violent videogames are more often played by those with violent tendencies; while this is true, it does not mean that the predisposition towards violence is the only or dominant cause of the violence.[2]

My problem with this specific game is that it unveils a dark part of our society: That violence is an acceptable or even encouraged behavior towards those who are "different".

Isn't this a self defeating argument? If the person already has violent tendencies towards immigrants, what is the significance of the game itself? Said person would already commit violence towards immigrants - video game or no video game.

It's not self-defeating. Just because one is predisposed towards violence, does not mean one will commit said violence. It's much like genetics: Even if one's family has a history of cancer, it still takes an environmental trigger to cause such cancer. Anyone with experience in the field of psychology will attest to the fact that most behavior requires a catalyst. I am suggesting that this type of videogame is the catalyst for motivating the described violent behavior.