Video games have been debated for some time now.

Some people believe they are beneficial, but others believe they cause more harm than good.
Some people even go as far to say that video games cause violent behavior.

According to studies by researchers at the University of York, video games do not cause violent behavior.

“The findings suggest that there is no link between these kinds of realism in games and the kind of effects that video games are commonly thought to have on their players,” University of York researchers said.
According to the article by Jessica Conditt, “For the People in the Back: Video Games don’t cause violence,” there is evidence that suggests video games help to reduce crime and violent behavior.

“An economic study published in February 2016 found a reduction in crime in the weeks after major video game releases,” Conditt said. “A handful of similar studies conducted from a range of perspectives have come to the same conclusion.”

UW Oshkosh Women’s Center Program Assistant Eliza Farrow said video games create a desensitization toward violence rather than being the cause of violence.
Farrow said video games could be used as a treatment for various ailments like anxiety or PTSD.

“Some games directly look at mental health issues, and that can help people not only learn about them but show other people that you’re not alone,” Farrow said.
Video games are more than an outlet for entertainment; they provide a way for people to escape their problems for a brief amount of time.

“‘Depression Quest’ and ‘Hellblade’ do a really good job showing psychosis,” Farrow said. “‘Life is Strange’ shows lots of bullying issues and mental health.”
Video games are another way you can learn to actively change how you think about things, get out of depression and accomplish your goals.”

Overall, video games can cause desensitization to violence, but violent behavior caused by video games cannot be linked with scientific research.