The Impact of Video Games with Aggressive Content on Emotional State: Review of Current Research

The article is devoted to a review of modern research studying the impact of video games with aggressive content on the emotional state and behavior of players. It examines various theoretical approaches, including the General Aggression Model (GAM), the Catalyst Model and alternative theories describing the impact of aggressive content and media violence. Special attention is paid to the results of empirical studies indicating both positive and negative consequences of video games. Positive effects include reduced stress and improved emotional state, while negative effects include increased aggression, destructive behavioral manifestations and a decrease in empathy. A review of current research demonstrates that the impact of video games can vary significantly depending on the individual characteristics of players, their personal characteristics, the context of the gaming experience, the genre of video games and other factors. This makes the issue of the impact of aggressive content in video games extremely complex and multifaceted. The article emphasizes the need for further research in this area, including using a collegial and interdisciplinary approach to study the impact of aggressive video game content on the emotional and psychological state of players.

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