Running Head: Psychology 1
Psychology
Kevin Roberts
Wilmington University
Psychology 2
Violent video games may be tied to aggressive thoughts
BY KATHRYN DOYLE
Playing violent video games may be linked to violent thoughts and behavior among kids,
according to a new study.
The report, based on data from Singapore, found that kids who often play violent video games
end up showing more aggression later on, and more often believe hitting is acceptable, than kids
who don’t play them.
Children who played more violent video games tended to have more fantasies about violence and
to think violence in real life was more acceptable, according to results published in JAMA
Pediatrics.
The study design, which followed kids over time and relied on their own reports, is similar to a
study that the U.S. Supreme Court rejected in 2011 as part of its ruling against banning the sale
of violent games to minors, he said.
She believes there is a growing consensus that violent games may be tied to aggression, and that
violent thoughts might be the intermediate step in the relationship.
Response
The phenomenon that I found in chapter one that interest me was aggression (pg.40)
because it is a very common phenomenon in today’s society. Aggression is violent behavior or
violent attitude toward someone else, such as fighting or arguing. The thought of violent video
games having a negative effect on kids is a big issue and topic. This study showed that kids that
played violent video games for a longer period time was likely to react in a violent way. They
thought hitting or fighting was okay. I agree to a certain extent that violent video games provoke
more violence. I’ve seen this with my own eyes. I have younger cousins who started fighting
because they got upset and said that’s what they do on Grand Theft Auto. I do not agree totally
however, I think the media has a way of blowing things out of proportion, they tend to take
matters to the extreme at times. Parenting is the most important factor here because they need to
make sure their child is mature enough to handle video games. For example, my parents made
sure I understood that it was a video game and it was not okay to act like that in real life.
Psychology 3
AAP: Kids as Young As 4 Can Now Be Diagnosed with ADHD
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can now be officially diagnosed in children as
young as age 4, according to new guidelines released by The American Academy of Pediatrics.
Up until now, the AAP had only provided guidelines for ADHD diagnosis starting at age 6.
The new guidelines are based on recent research that makes it possible to diagnose and manage
ADHD sooner, and hopefully will help families to seek appropriate treatment earlier and allow
their kids to avoid early struggles in school. Additionally, they provide specific recommendations
for what some pediatricians are already doing unofficially—using stimulants off-label to treat
young children with severe behavioral problems. Mark Wolraich, MD, FAAP, and chairperson of
the committee that authored the report, said that parents concerned about ADHD should see
behaviors like an inability to focus, trouble listening, and other symptoms consistently in
multiple settings, like school and home. Given that the symptoms of ADHD generally sound like
pretty typical behavior of preschoolers (especially those who have missed naptime), Dr. Wolraich
said that the “extent and frequency of the problem” help doctors to make the diagnosis.
Response
The next phenomenon that caught my attention was ADHD in chapter two (pg. 83). This
was something I always heard about but did not know what it really was. I learned that ADHD
stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which is a psychiatric disorder that makes
someone have a hard time paying attention or stay focused. This causes them to be very
hyperactive and energetic and act what some would call uncontrollable. The article from
Parenting Magazine is a little absurd to me trying to diagnose kids at 4 years old of some type of
disorder. At four years old the kid is still developing themselves so I cannot quite understand
Psychology 4
how you can diagnose someone with a disorder for the rest of their life and put them on
medication. This seems like another case where doctors think medication can solve everything,
when that is simply not the case. Some of the symptoms like the inability to focus or remain
calm could be because a child is bored because the work is not challenging enough so a child
acts only as a child knows how, looking for fun and enjoyable moments. Also, a child could just
be energetic for example my little brother always has a bunch of energy and wants to run around
and have fun however he calms down when he is told or needs to. Doctors said wait until the
child is older and has the chance to mature and learn how to control their actions. The
medications for ADHD has to many downsides to it for one kids become very mellow and look
somewhat depressed, some even do not want to eat because they say the medication makes them
not want to eat or not feel hungry.
What Causes Antisocial Personality Disorder?
By DONALD BLACK, MD
A recent study showed that if mothers smoked during pregnancy, their offspring were at risk of
developing antisocial behavior. This suggests that smoking brought about lowered oxygen levels
