OXFORD, UNITED KINGDOM — Violent video games have long been blamed for triggering aggression in teens, but a new study from the University of Oxford finds that that's not actually the case. <br /><br />A comprehensive new study published in Royal Society Open Science has found no evidence that playing violent video games can make teens more aggressive.<br /><br />Researchers surveyed 1,000 British 14 and 15-year-olds on their gaming habits and behavior, with in-game violence assessed using UK and US ratings.<br /><br />They then interviewed parents and guardians to see if they thought their child had become antisocial or displayed any aggression.<br /><br />As it turns out, playing bloodthirsty games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, or Grand Theft Auto doesn't make your kid more angry or prone to violence than one who doesn't.<br /><br />Lead researcher Andrew Przybylski told Sky News that a lot of things feed into aggression. Gender and a person's background have some effect, but it's personal frustrations, family or life circumstances that fuel it more than the actual video game."<br /><br />That's not to say games don't provoke angry outbursts, but they're more of a reaction to certain gaming situations and mechanics, and less a behavior that's cause for concern.<br /><br />So next time someone warns you that video games will make you violent, tell 'em that myth's been busted.
