Constructive Means of Expressing Destructive Emotions Through Gaming

It used to be when men had disputes they battled it out over pistols, or fenced, or boxed. These days in a society where we consider ourselves civilized enough to be above violence and aggression for solving problems, there is a gap that needs to be filled. People in general are finding it harder and harder to find constructive ways to express and release the aggression that is an innate part of the human experience. Society considers it unacceptable to walk around with a sword or gun on your hip (even people who are licensed to carry are often given a sideways glances by citizens and law enforcement alike), and friendly sparring is only acceptable in certain venues such as dojos or gyms. However it is unhealthy to keep aggression and frustrations bottled up, because often they reach a boiling point and end up being expressed in a very inappropriate manner which can be harmful to the individual and others around them.

In a society where "going postal" has become a chilling joke, what are people with natural and perhaps even more than normal aggressive tendencies supposed to do? Even in your own back yard you are not safe from criticism and ostracism if you practice Martial Arts or other forms of what can be perceived as violent expression. For many people this is where the glorious gamut of gaming comes in. Games such as "Grand Theft Auto", "Twisted Metal", and "Hitman" allow a person to take out their aggressions without harming anyone. These games allow a person to turn their frustration to the destruction of their targets without it doing harm to the individuals or property around them. With games such as "America's Army" and "Halo" you are allowed human interaction and often required to learn to think strategically in order to survive in the game. For the Science Fiction and Fantasy enthusiasts games such as "World of Warcraft" and "Knight On-Line" allow the same human interactivity and method of strategic thinking. These particular games do allow a Player vs. Player mode, however at least in the case of Knight On-Line the normal mode of play generally encourages forming bands of players to accomplish goals and gain experience. This sort of encouragement towards teamwork is becoming more prevalent amongst video games.

In other games such as "Rome Total War" and "Civilization" there is less emphasis on the battle aspect, and more emphasis on the strategic thinking and historical aspects. The battle aspect does exist, but it requires building armies, managing an economy, building diplomatic relations, and maintaining loyalty and morale amongst citizens. When it comes down to the war aspect, again there is a great deal of strategic thinking involved, the weapons and methodology applied in the battle simulations are also historically accurate.

As with anything video games should be a hobby done in moderation, and should be combined as an outlet with other more physical activities for physical as well as mental health. It has been well documented that physical health does impact mental health and vice versa. Staying in good physical health is also a very good means at curbing aggressive and even violent tendencies. So don't hang up those martial arts lessons, or the membership at the gym just to have more time with your video games.

Also, parents should pay attention to video game ratings before purchasing them for their children and adolescents. Many games are NOT appropriate for children; however they can serve as a means of therapeutic release for adults who are able to realize that there is a difference between shooting someone in a video game and shooting someone in real life. The motto here is "Pixels not People!" Parents also should limit the time their children spend on video games, and try to stick to games similar to that latter ones mentioned that teach history, diplomacy, economics, critical thinking, strategy, and sociology. Also games that have a science fiction basis often incorporate real scientific facts and theories that children can pick up along the way. Most properly rated and well done children's games also encourage trial and error to advance through levels, which helps develop critical thinking skills. Games like "Tomb Raider" often have puzzles that need to be solved in addition to the normal interactive shooting up the bad guys, before you can advance. Again... video gaming should not replace traditional educational methods, nor should it fill all of your child's spare time. Children should get out and play, read books, and otherwise be encouraged to learn through the real and physical world. Video games should be a hobby and a supplemental activity only, and parents should monitor what games their children are being allowed to play.

One gentleman when asked will say, "Video games save lives... after all, they keep me from going postal!" And I believe he only means that half jokingly! Some people believe video games are contributing to violence, but I put forward that in many cases video games are giving an outlet for aggression and violence for many that would not otherwise be there. There is a happy middle ground, as long as gaming is used as a supplemental therapy, and people are being mindful of what is age appropriate and what is not. In the case of children this will require parents to take a little time to pay attention to what their child is involved in. That however should not apply solely to the subject of gaming though. For people like the gentleman like the one mentioned above, who feel that games are contributing to the betterment of society by giving him an outlet, I say, game on!