Md. Nurul Haque

Recently, the incidents of heart-rendering mob lynching at the highest universities, Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, and Rajshahi University, which are the breeding place of most intellectuals, leaders, and stakeholders of the nation and also in the arena of the global village, have harkened the awful and surprising eyes of the civilian of home and abroad. We have been dumbfounded and agonized by the harrowing and brutal killing of some suspected and mentally challenged guys. All the participants in the mob lynching are Gen Z, who cannot tolerate any injustice, disparity, extortion, suppression, and overall, any inhumane behavior. This general has ignited the hope of living with prestige, dignity, and freedom of expression. They have created a dawn of long-awaited, almost never-ending darkness of the unending night. However, their brutality and inclement behaviors with their fellow mates have saddened us and shattered our trust in finding them.

Many questions peep into our unquenchable minds about why they are so brutal sometimes. To fully comprehend their minds, we must delve into their lifestyle and upbringing over the last two decades. They were born and raised at a crucial time when the internet and technology were kissing skyrocketing success. Mobile and other technology have been at their finger’s end with the cheapest defrayal. Innumerable violent games have been their means of entertainment and expression of their deep-driven impulses. Are these violent and aggressive games responsible for their brutal and inhumane behavior? Let us examine what research says about this.

The relationship between the aggressive tendencies of Generation Z and their inclination towards violent video games is a multifaceted problem that has attracted scrutiny in recent studies. Research demonstrates a substantial correlation between aggressive behaviors and engagement with violent video games, especially among male adolescents.

Studies indicate that male teenagers are more inclined to participate in violent video games, which is associated with elevated aggression levels. The immersive quality of computer games may encourage aggressive ideas and behaviors, indicating a feedback loop in which hostility prompts further gaming, therefore escalating aggression. The research suggests that gender significantly influences behavior, with males demonstrating a greater propensity for violent gaming and related aggressive actions than females.

The association between aggression and violent video games is apparent; however, it is crucial to evaluate additional factors, like social environment and individual personality traits, that may potentially affect these behaviors. Consequently, the relationship is not exclusively deterministic but is situated in a broader framework of adolescent behavior.

Research suggests that violent video games may have both neutral and potentially negative impacts on the mental health and well-being of teenagers and young adults. Exposure to violent video games may increase aggressive inclinations, according to some researchers; however, other researchers contend that this effect is due more to individual predispositions than the games themselves.

While certain players may be more likely to act aggressively after playing violent video games, this is by no means guaranteed to happen to every player. No association was observed between the amount of time adolescents spent playing violent video games and an increase in violent conflict resolution in a study that focused on. Adolescents' views of violence are shaped by a myriad of cognitive and environmental elements, yet playing video games does not substantially change their view of violence in real life. Video games also impact personality and social growth. The way video games are played has a significant influence on young people. Even violent games can have positive effects on social ties and skill development. However, some scholars argue that serious games can help with health education and behavior modification, so it's not all bad. The impact of video games on the mental health of young people must be carefully studied.

However, some games game undeniably negative impacts. The illicit actions and brutal missions in Grand Theft Auto V and similar games can desensitize players to violence and make them more aggressive. Due to its graphic depictions of violent conflict, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare promotes aggressive thinking and may amplify feelings of fear and loneliness. Especially for younger players, the gruesome death scenes in Mortal Kombat 11 can be upsetting and cause them to act out more aggressively. Players may become less sensitive to violent imagery and more aggressive due to Doom Eternal's emphasis on bloody demon killing. Last but not least, Resident Evil Village mixes terror with violent action, which can make players anxious, disrupt their sleep, and even less tolerant of actual violent acts. The key to reducing these detrimental effects is moderation and instruction.

Parental advice, educational interventions, and the promotion of alternative activities are some of the techniques that can help reduce the harmful effects of violent video games on teenagers. These strategies aim to encourage better gaming behaviors and lessen exposure.

Parents should be involved and monitor their children's gaming habits to ensure they are not playing violent or inappropriate games. Limiting gaming time can help avoid excessive exposure to violent content and encourage a balanced lifestyle. Schools can launch awareness campaigns and educational programs that teach students about the possible consequences of playing violent video games and promote critical thinking about media use. Adolescents can benefit from learning emotional control and conflict resolution skills to better process violent content. Getting teenagers involved in sports or artistic interests might take their minds off violent video games and encourage them to interact with others more positively. Although these methods work, some contend that video games provide a safe space for aggressiveness and stress reduction, implying a more complex control approach.

Our parents and guardians should be more conscious of parenting and controlling our children with cutting-edge knowledge of technology and inculcating religious, moral, and social values into their minds. By encouraging them to participate in physical games and exercises indoors and outdoors and controlling or limiting the use of technologies, specifically violent games, we can ensure their mental well-being and make them real human beings.

The writer is an assistant professor of English at IUBAT and a PhD candidate at Universiti Putra Malaysia.