Violent Video Games and Delinquent Behavior in Adolescents: Aggressiveness and Peer Delinquency as Moderators

• In Event: Aggression, Bullying, and Fear in a Media-Rich Environment: High-Density Session

Abstract

A cross-sectional study examined the relationship between violent video game play and adolescent delinquent behavior, controlling for several confounding variables and potential moderators, based on the Differential Susceptibility hypothesis. Even though peer delinquency has been extensively linked to an individual’s delinquent behavior in criminology, this study is among the first to consider it as a moderator of the relationship between violent video games and delinquent behavior. An online survey of 3372 [nationality deleted] adolescents, aged 12 to 18, found a significant relationship between violent video gaming and delinquent behavior, controlling for gender, age, overall gaming volume, sensation seeking, aggressiveness and peer delinquency. The relationship between violent video gaming and delinquency was positive for respondents with low aggressiveness scores, and negative for respondents with high scores. The relationship between violent video gaming and individual delinquency became stronger for respondents scoring higher on peer delinquency. Implications for future research are discussed.

Authors

• Liese Exelmans, KU Leuven

• Kathleen Custers, U of Leuven - School for Mass Communication Research

• Jan Van den Bulck, U of Leuven School for Mass Communication Research