Video Games and Sociological Theory Essay - 600 Words

Video Games and Sociological Theory July 22, 2012 Video games have become as pervasive an aspect of our society as television, with many people spending more time playing video games than watching television. There are many perspectives with which to gauge videos games’ effect on society, from a functionalist, conflict or interactionist perspective. (Schaefer, 2011) Each of these sociological theories can provide a different view of video games, how they affect society and the subcultures that develop around them. The functionalist perspective would emphasize the way in which the parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability. (Schaefer, 2011) A functionalist may point out the manifest functions of video games as a†¦show more content†¦A more in-depth study may look at video games from a Marxist point of view, characterizing the games as a modern day â€Å"opiate of the masses† with multi-billion dollar corporations publishing the games to keep the proletariat occupied and oblivious to their plights. A feminist may cite the standard role of female video game characters as being the â€Å"damsel in distress† and even strong female characters usually being relegated to sex symbol status. An interactionist would study the effect of videos games on individuals, rather than on society as a whole. (Schaefer, 2011) Some things they may study would be any influence the games have on a behavior of a person. Another interactionist aspect would be the effect on families, where, like many things, video games can bring a family together or alienate members. Online multiplayer games now can also allow people to interact with other players from all over the world, being exposed to people and aspects of culture they may never have encountered otherwise. The interactionist may also look at gaming clans, and how the interaction of members affects daily life outside of video games. The sociological interpretations of video games are almost as numerous as the games themselves, and like many aspects of our society can be harmful or beneficial depending on how they are utilized by anShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Television Violence On Today s Society1518 Words   |  7 Pages Aside from video games, there is a multitude of media that today’s youth is exposed to every day. Such media includes social media websites such as Twitter and Instagram, movies, television, and news broadcasting programs. Television, however, plays arguably the largest role in influencing adolescents in today’s society. According to Marina Krcmar and Kathryn Green, â€Å"Viewing of violent television and interest in television violence has been linked to a host of antisocial behaviors such as increasedRead MoreHunger Games Sociology Essay1098 Words   |  5 PagesSuzanne Collins’ novel The Hunger Games and its big screen adaptation follow the journey of a teenage gir l in the dystopian country of Panem. Katniss Everdeen must fight to survive in a game of death against other youth from the twelve districts in Panem. However, The Hunger Games is not just a young adult genre obsession, but also a complex study of the social sciences. The symbolism and plot of The Hunger Games are prime examples of Sociology because they display different societal rules and normsRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Technology990 Words   |  4 Pagesthey do in other activity except for sleeping. The vast majority of young people have access to a bedroom television, computer, the Internet, a video game console, and cellphone†. Although, this can be a great advantage for children it can also be a great disadvantage. The media is a great place where children can learn from educational programs, video games, and others. Young kids can learn literacy, numerical, and social skills. They can learn this from television programs such as Sesame StreetRead MoreEffects Of Video Games On Children Essay1357 Words   |  6 PagesNew Zealand able to identify signs of dependency or addiction in their children due to over use of screen-time from the recreational use of video games? Digital technology and the vast amount of video games have increased the amount of screen time consumption in contemporary New Zealand society. The saturation of smart phones, ipad’s, tablets, computers, game consoles and the Internet are devices with the means of connection to gaming. Many New Zealand families integrate these gaming devices intoRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Society s Attitude Toward Pointing Out An Apparent Ongoing Struggle Between Whites And Blacks1668 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"issues of race and ethnicity can be observed through three major sociological perspectives†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (237). Interactionism is the first of these theoretical perspectives. According the book, â€Å"†¦some interactionists propose that the symbols of race, not race itself, are what lead to racism†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (237). An example of this might be if an individual whose primary source of news is social media, and whose beliefs are derived from the pictures, videos, and sto ries represented on these common sites, and are assumedRead MoreWeek 1 Sociology Notes1548 Words   |  7 PagesWeek One Assignment Chapter One The Sociological Perspective The sociological perspective provides a specific view of the world. Briefly describe this perspective and the assumptions this perspective is based on. The sociological perspective puts emphasis on the social context in which people live in and how these contexts influence their lives. At the center of this perspective is the question of how groups influence people, especially how people are influence by their society. SociologistsRead MoreEssay on Video Games and Violence1481 Words   |  6 Pagesexpress to in most of these cases they are entertainment media like video games. Now I know there are some who would disagree that video games have nothing to with this about this topic. However as this paper goes deeper in this issue we can finally find out whether video games had influence regardless how powerful it is on gun violence. Throughout this paper we research what type of behavioral and psychological effect video games especially those very heavy gun violence in them, and what we as aRead MoreThe Social Construction Of Gender978 Words   |  4 PagesBerger, as a sociologist responsible for helping create the social constructionism theory, is not just extending an invitation to sociology. He is already explaining how the world can be viewed by people who already are actively participating in society. This consciousness allows the layer of how people participate to be revealed, and under what circumstance do they engage in the discourse. Thinking within the sociological discipline, I reflected upon how I participated in a gendered society. As a masculineRead MorePsychological and Sociological Theories of Domestic Violence Essay1674 Words   |  7 Pagestheir victims (Gosselin, 2005). Due to the complexity of this crime, many criminologists and socialologists have studied its causes and the effects in order to determine social policies and additional theories to better understand the causation of domestic violence. The social policies and theories that are developed from this research can better explain, educate, and assist the victims of domestic abuse, the judicial system, and law enforcement on how to gain a clearer understanding regarding theRead More VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA Essay782 Words   |  4 Pagesthe caves men, but only recently has television lifted its ban on the graphic depiction of violence. American children and adolescents are being exposed to increasing amounts of media violence, especially in tel evision, movies, video games, and youth-oriented music. Video game violence, childrens cartoons, and music lyrics have become increasingly graphic. In movies, action films depict vivid precise murders, rapes, and assaults; with each sequel, the number of deaths increases dramatically. Although