Mortal Kombat: The Effect of Violent Videogame Play on Males' Hostility and Cardiovascular Responding
- ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Mary Ballard Ph.D., Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- Appalachian State University (ASU )
- Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/
Abstract: We examined cardiovascular (CV) reactivity and hostility among 30 male undergraduates
after either nonviolent (billiards) or 1 of 2 levels of violent videogame
play. Violence varied among 2 versions of the game Mortal Kombat (MKl = less
violent, MK2 = more violent)-all other factors (graphics, sound) were held equal.
As expected, increased game violence elicited greater CV reactivity and higher scores
on hostility measures. Subjects who played MK1 or MK2 had higher heart rate
reactivity than those who played billiards. Subjects who played MK2 showed greater
systolic blood pressure reactivity than those who played MKl or billiards. Finally,
subjects who played MK2 scored higher on the hostility measures than those who
played MKl, who in turn scored higher than those who played billiards. These results
indicate that the level of videogame violence, not just violence per se, should be of
concern to consumers.
Mortal Kombat: The Effect of Violent Videogame Play on Males' Hostility and Cardiovascular Responding
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Ballard, M. E., & Wiest, J. R. (1996). Mortal Kombat: The effect of violent videogame play on males' hostility and cardiovascular responding. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 26(8): 717-730. (April 1996) Published by Wiley-Blackwell (ISSN: 1559-1816). DOI: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1996.tb02740.x The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com
- Language: English
- Date: 1996