Date of Award

August 2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Communication

First Advisor

Mike Allen

Committee Members

Erin Ruppel, Erin Parcell, Tae-Seop Lim

Abstract

The present study is a comprehensive meta-analytic investigation exploring the relationship between exposure to violent video games and aggressive behavior. The present study explores the underlying effects of violent video game exposure and individuals’ aggressive behavior. The literature review examines previous research; including contradictory findings on the influence of violent video games on aggression, the significance of social learning theory in behavior comprehension, and the impact of age on aggressive behaviors. Furthermore, it explores the Buss-Perry model of trait aggression and its application to video game studies. The study outlines its methods which encompass literature search strategies, inclusion criteria, variables, moderator coding and analysis, and meta-analytic procedures. The findings and discussion further extend the literature on the relationship between exposure to violent video games and aggressive behavior; exploring the necessity for future investigations to explore age-related effects and intercultural influences and the formulation of a more coherent conceptual framework for aggressive behavior and violence pertaining specifically to video games. The present study offers a thorough examination of the relationship between exposure to violent video games and aggressive behavior, advocating for continued exploration into research focused on video games and aggressive behavior. Video games have become a staple of society, and the necessity exists to explore the continued effects they may have on individuals.

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