Professor says parents should follow video game ratings

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The topic of violent video games often comes up following mass shootings.

A University of Missouri-Kansas City video game expert says that for decades, research has shown seeing violence in TV, movies and games leads to increased aggression.

Worse still, it only takes about 15 minutes of exposure to the violent video game to notice changes – at least in a lab setting.

“I would say my research would suggest that the natural reaction is diminished after repeated exposure to violence,” UMKC professor Wade Elmore said, noting our natural instinct is that when we see something violent, we think it’s bad.

Elmore says parents should follow the ratings system on video games, and to watch their children play. He says some parents might be surprised just how violent some of the games actually are.