Videogames and effects model

The effects model: Albert Bandura

• it stipulates that media has a direct effect on us. 
• This is ONLY used for the video game industry (EDUQAS mark scheme not school)

He presumed that:

• Representations of violence can 'model' or demonstrate violent behaviour, 
• Audiences 'copy' violent and socially unacceptable behavior they see in media products
  
  

  This is arguably faulted, because clearly not everyone is going to become a mass murderer or zombie killer after playing one game. I watch loads of TV shows/films which have violence in them, and I am not going around stabbing people! 😂

  
  

  The effects model

  
  

  • The effects model

  - Passive theory. 

  - The idea if we watch something, we will absorb the ideology of the product.

  - The Bodo doll experiment. This experiment was on children, they are different from adults. They are irrational and easily led. If you lie to a child they will believe you, etc. They are gullible.

  • Key examples
  • Doom 1993 - first person shooter game, this game had a controversial reaction. Many critics believed this video game "polluting the minds of children." But when was this ever approved for a Childs use? As we know, the regulation of any industry is not very effective, but would a child even understand this?
  • Actually, some criminal cases have been associated with this game. Such as the Columbine Massacre in 1999. American teenagers got hold of guns and killed multiple students and staff. Doom was blamed for the massacre. Dungeons and Dragons was also blamed (board game).
  • But this is easily debunked. How many people have played this? Millions. How many have killed? Only a few. But can we be sure that there is a definite link? No. We can't just jump to these conclusions.
  • At least two massive flaws in the theory
  • Video games are notoriously violent, but, there is NO evidence that this influences the audience. 
  • Violence is also presented as a problem-solving mechanism.
  • Life is presented as cheap, there's no reflection on violence or the death caused by you (as the player)
  • This reinforces that violence is acceptable.
• Adults understand violence and what is morally correct.
• Assassin's Creed is clearly fictional and isn't too 'graphic', sure - you kill a lot of people as a mass murder, but it's clearly a game. No-one is going to become an assassin from watching this game.
• This is just a stupid theory, adults can differentiate from what is acceptable and what is not

 

Assassin's Creed:

- it's very clear it's not real, for example indications on screen explaining what you should do. That would NEVER happen in real life. This distances the audience from the video game, it breaks the forth wall.

- Although some may argue Assassin's creed looks somewhat realistic, it is still clearly a video game.

- The speed the main character is running at, also signifies that this is a video game.

- To young children, as discussed before, they are gullible.