Psychophysiological research for investigating influences of chronic exposure to violent games and motivational activation on affective information processing.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26380996
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Experimental psychology
• Research Institution: Mie University (2015-2017); Osaka University of Economics (2014)
• Principal Investigator: KURITA Satoko 三重大学, 国際交流センター, 准教授 (60588317)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 片山 順一 関西学院大学, 文学部, 教授 (80211845)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MUROHASHI Harumitsu 札幌学院大学, 人文学部, 教授 (00182147) ; FUKUSHIMA Hirokata 関西大学, 社会学部, 准教授 (50611331)
• Research Collaborator: LANG Annie Indiana University, Media School & Cognitive Science Program, Distinguished Professor
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 暴力的ゲーム影響 / 情動的情報処理 / 生理心理測定 / 脳波 / 事象関連脳電位 / 心拍活動 / 動機システム / 注意

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The possibility of negative psychological and behavioral effects on adolescents by chronic exposure to violent games (VG) is a growing social concern in many countries including Japan. Leading researchers of VG study explain that habitual VG playing can cause decreased emotional/cognitive responses (desensitization) to violent events even in reality. However, the mechanism of desensitization has not been clearly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to enhance our understanding of the "desensitization" effect by measuring multiple physiological data collected from the central and peripheral nervous system and individuals' trait level of motivational activation. The results revealed that there were significant effects of playing VG beyond the trait level of motivational activation; the major effects found in our study were “sensitization” on the attentional process. Potential influences of chronic exposure to VG are discussed.

Free Research Field

メディア心理学