Did the Joker Play Aggressive Video Games? A Two-Wave Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis of the Relation Between Aggressive Video Game Play, Trait Aggressiveness, and Psychopathy

• In Event: Not So Easy: Problematic Aspects of Digital Games

Abstract

FULL RESEARCH PAPER: Several studies have been presented with the goal to investigate long-term effects of aggressive video game play on aggressive behavior. While many researchers acknowledge that interpersonal differences may play an important role in this relationship, empirical evidence on this topic is scarce. A possible candidate for interindividual differences affecting changes in dispositional aggressiveness as a result of aggressive video game play are psychopathic tendencies, which have been frequently linked to aggressive behavior. A three-month cross-lagged panel study (N=187) was conducted to investigate the role of psychopathic tendencies. Our results suggest a selection effect for aggressive video games, while no socialization effects could be observed. Implications and limitations of our study are discussed.

Authors

• Benny Liebold, Chemnitz University of Technology

• Daniel Pietschmann, Chemnitz University of Technology

• Eva Zurbrügg, Hanover U of Music, Drama, and Media

• Vanessa Schüppel, Chemnitz U of Technology

• Kevin Koban, Chemnitz University of Technology