EdNews.org recently published an op-ed I wrote titled "Video Games for Christmas? Perhaps Not for Boys." It upset many gamers who wrote comments on the publication's website and on popular gaming blogs. The gamers did not reference any research that contradicted my position, but did provide numerous ad hominem arguments.

Parts of the op-ed were more controversial than others. For example, gamers were clearly angry that I wrote: "A definite link has been established between violent video games and antisocial behavior. Games like 'Grand Theft Auto' and 'Halo' can make your son more aggressive."

Typical responses from gamers were: "There have been no studies that prove a solid link between violent video games and aggression" and "It's possible there's a correlation between violent video games and aggression, but video games do not cause aggression" and "This article provides no references to back up its claims."

First of all, it was an op-ed, not a scholarly article written for a peer-reviewed journal. References aren't usually included in an op-ed because it's an opinion piece. While I have had scholarly articles published in peer-reviewed journals, I wrote the op-ed to express my opinion—which is based on having read many peer-reviewed articles on the subject at hand.

Second, there have indeed been studies that prove a definite link between violent video games and aggression. And these studies reveal the link to be causal.

I will break with tradition in this op-ed and list references: "Exposure to Violent Video Games Increases Automatic Aggressiveness," by Eric Uhlmann and Jane Swanson, "Journal of Adolescence," volume 27, pp. 41-52, 2004. "An Update on the Effects of Playing Violent Video Games," by Craig Anderson, "Journal of Adolescence," volume 27, pp. 113-122, 2004. "Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents: Theory, Research, and Public Policy," by Craig Anderson, Douglas Gentile, and Katherine Buckley, Oxford University Press, 2006.

This is not to say that all video games are bad for boys. Some video games are harmless when played in moderation. The problem is that boys are spending, on average, more than thirteen hours a week playing video games, many of which are violent.

Surprisingly, only a few gamers commented on the part of the op-ed wherein I wrote: "Research consistently confirms that the more time boys spend playing video games, the more likely they are to do poorly in school—regardless of age. At a time when boys are already underperforming in school, video games only make the situation worse."

One gamer commented: "As for the performance at school, it actually makes sense. So I guess there's some truth to that. I've graduated from college a few years now but video games took a lot of my homework time during school days."

Another gamer wrote, "Funny, in high school, I had two friends who were avid gamers, to say the very least, and they both ended up getting full rides to good colleges."

A different gamer responded with, "Yeah but if they didn't play games they might have gotten full rides to even better colleges."

The problems boys are having in school these days did not originate from video games, but from an education system that fails to teach boys in ways that boys learn best. However, video games are contributing to—and not helping—those problems.

Bill Costello, training director of Making Minds Matter, teaches parents and teachers the best strategies for educating boys. He can be reached at www.makingmindsmatter.com or trainer@makingmindsmatter.com.

Published December 20, 2008