However, other authors who have worked on these subjects claim that aggressive and hostile feelings borne out of frustration and competition can be counteracted when there is a human adversary:  companionship and laughter among the players can suffice to lessen the tension aroused by the game. "Further studies on the influence of video game that examine hostile attribution bias could verify this affective component by testing a group playing a violent game, another group playing a non-violent game, and a third group playing a board game against a peer. Another option would be to have two players or a team play the game together," adds Roxanne Toniutti.

Here's to video games!

In the end, Roxanne Toniutti's study has several strong points. "First of all, this research adds further information to a debate that is not always clear, and allows us to better understand the mechanisms that can contribute to aggressiveness. This study also adds some nuance to the discussion, by avoiding the too-hasty conclusions or linear connections that are sometimes made," observes Cécile Mathys. Furthermore, the results provide the opportunity to deliver an important message: there is no point in demonising video games, at least in a certain context. Indeed, the situation is clearly complex: an adolescent who plays video games is not necessarily different before and after, just because of the game. "In light of these results, it's now harder to say: that young person plays video games - or violent video games - therefore they will be aggressive! Other elements also have an impact: some of them are related to social background, others are related to still other factors, and there are probably cumulative effects as well," suggests Cécile Mathys.

By shedding light upon this debate, this research also contributes to discussions about potential prevention methods, says Cécile Mathys. "Prevention will most likely occur through universal recommendations, with the objective being to help young people better understand the possible effects of hostile attribution bias or aggressiveness related to violent video games. But a secondary form of prevention should also be directed at populations that are more at risk and more vulnerable to these images, in order to raise their awareness, including on the subject of video games,” she explains. Of course this approach does not preclude addressing fundamental messages to parents - quite the opposite. 

Who's baby-sitting tonight?

Other reflections have emerged as a result of this study, thought they were not examined as such. For example, "Adults need to understand the importance of respecting the video game age ratings, in addition to showing interest in the games or even playing with their child, and thus creating a bond around the game," adds Roxanne Toniutti. “In fact, most studies show that parental supervision protects young people. The trap for parents is to view the game as a sort of ‘baby-sitter’, which they don't need to think about. We need to tell adults over and over again that they must remain invested in their child and maintain their parental role, including in regards to this type of medium."

Cécile Mathys adds, "when parents are interested in their child’s life and development they have to focus even more on the time spent playing video games, and be attentive to their child’s behaviour before and after they play. Video games don't have the same impact on everyone, and all individuals don’t have the same level of sensitivity. Games can lead to more impulsive and even aggressive behaviour depending on the young person's background and environment. But they can also serve a protective function and as a means to release impulses and tension.”

In any case, the advice for parents (and/or educators and teachers) is the same for all young people: talk and communicate with the child or adolescent, show interest in them, and encourage them to talk about their feelings and experiences. In short, maintain your connection with the child, don’t shut yourself out of the video game universe. Even though we now know that violent video games in themselves don't necessarily inspire young people to pick up machine guns.