We’ve all seen the “scientific studies” that show a link between violent videogames and violent behavior, but could those same violent games actually be used for good? A new study suggests that playing violent videogames can decreased the level of harm and aggression experienced when soldiers dream about war.
According to the study of 98 members of the military, soldiers who didn’t play videogames reported much more violent dreams an a feeling of hopelessness. Those who played games at least several times a week reported less violent dreams accompanied by the feeling that they can fight back against whatever was happening in the dream.
Jayne Gackenbach of Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, responsible for conducting the study, presented her findings at this year’s Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco and told the crowd; “They’re taking (Playstation 3’s, XBox 360’s and other consoles) into the field and playing them all the time. And it turns out, there may be a good reason to let them do that.”