We’ve all seen the “scientific studies” that show a link between violent videogames and violent behavior, but could those same violent games actually be used for good? A new study suggests that playing violent videogames can decreased the level of harm and aggression experienced when soldiers dream about war.
According to the study of 98 members of the military, soldiers who didn’t play videogames reported much more violent dreams an a feeling of hopelessness. Those who played games at least several times a week reported less violent dreams accompanied by the feeling that they can fight back against whatever was happening in the dream.
Jayne Gackenbach of Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, responsible for conducting the study, presented her findings at this year’s Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco and told the crowd; “They’re taking (Playstation 3’s, XBox 360’s and other consoles) into the field and playing them all the time. And it turns out, there may be a good reason to let them do that.”
I have been playing video games (violent and other type of games) for over 15 years now. I know for a fact that my dreams are affected by what I play. Usually they only affect the nature or style of the dream… However, after playing Kane & Lynch some years ago I have violent nightmare where I was stabbing people eyes out.
I am in no way against violent video games — I love the Bulletstorm & the Halo series — but some video games can cause nightmare, at least in me.