Awhile back in a class discussion, opinons were exchanges about online games and virtual worlds. There was an open class discussion about the United States Army's website in releasing a video game to the public. Some individuals in class believed that a video game couldn't possibly motivate someone to peruse a career in the military, whereas others differed. Coming from a psychological standpoint I believe strongly that children and young adults can be manipulated by the contents of video game graphics.
The market for video games has been growing enormulsy since the 1970s. Every new year brings more advance video games. Assuming if a random survey were to be conducted...a prediction may lead to a high probability of individuals from the ages of 8 years of age to 30 will have known or heard of The Super Mario Borthers, Mortal Kombat, or Grand Theft Auto. These video games have touched and moved peole's lives because of the content and theme of these historic games. If these popular video games were to make historic influences on gamers why not persue other tactics to influence them to persue a career that may benefit them.. or for that matter, their country?
There is now solid evidence to suggest a relationship between exposure to violent television and movies to aggressive behavior (Although there is still psychological research being conducted on the topic). Researchers have found that some children are more physically and verbally aggressive immediately after watching violent television and movies. It is also clear that aggressive children and teens watch more violent television than their less aggressive peers.
But what about non-aggressive children and young adults?
Coming from another class discussion, it's be said that video games can become extremely addicting. Anything that relaxes the mind (in access)--whether its considered healthy or not is an addiction. Individuals who play an access of hours of video games daily (I believe) can be considered an addiction. Process of perception can fool the mind to believe these individuals are experiencing a new form of reality. I wouldn't necessary call it "trippin' on video games shrooms" or "Virtual Acid Trip," but people loose contact with the outside world for hours and don't realize what's essentially goind on in their natural surroundings.
The army wants to recruit more people to serve their country, and question is how? An opinion that I received from a friend suggest that the army like to recruit younger adults who are prone to take orders and be easily manipulated by the senior staff. He told me "you wouldn't make it far into the service because you have an education and you see things in a different perception." However, younger adults searching for that answer, "what they want to do with themselves," may consider the arm
ed forces. If a video games can create aggression and change the perception on an individuals cognitive functioning skills, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT AN ARMY VIDEO GAME WOULD BRING IN MORE POTENTIAL SOLDIERS. My final thoughts on this topic would be the psychology behind the eyes of a natural killer. Serial killers and murders have been mentally conditioned and reinforces psychology with good vibes coming from negative aspects. If a video game can train an individual to become a solider...what about a potential candidate for a killer?
