Final answer:
The main concern about violent video games is their potential to increase aggressive thoughts and behaviors in players. Studies indicate immediate and possibly lasting effects on aggression, although the link to criminal behavior remains contested.
Step-by-step explanation:
One main reason why there is continued concern about violent video games is that significant research, including studies by Anderson and colleagues, indicates that playing these games may lead to an increase in aggressive thoughts and behaviors. Experiments show that children can exhibit an immediate increase in hostile thoughts, aggressive feelings, and physiological arousal after playing violent video games, potentially increasing the likelihood of aggressive actions. Moreover, theories such as desensitization suggest that repeated exposure to violent video games could make individuals less sensitive to violence, thus normalizing aggressive responses over time.
However, it's important to note that while there is empirical support for the connection between violent video games and aggression, the evidence on whether such games lead to criminal violence remains more ambiguous, with some studies citing "scant evidence" for a direct causal link to criminal violence. This debate reflects the complexities in differentiating between correlation and causation, and the need for considering other influences such as mental health and family life.
Therefore, the players being active participants in the virtual violence is a central concern because it may foster a more direct engagement with aggressive scripts and potential reinforcing of the learned behaviors.