Final answer:
Exposure to video games with sexual themes is linked to increased risky sexual behavior and violent video games have been consistently found to be associated with increased aggressive thought and behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adolescents' exposure to video games with sexual themes has been linked to increased risky sexual behavior. Research, including studies by Anderson and Bushman, shows that while violent video games are not necessarily tied to actual criminal violence, they do have a causal relationship with increased aggressive thought and behavior.
This correlation is due to factors such as increased acceptability of violence and heightened physiological arousal, which can manifest as aggressive thoughts or actions immediately after play and potentially over the long term with continuous exposure.
Although there remains debate in the scientific community regarding the extent and impact of violent media and video games on behavior, it is generally accepted that repeated exposure to violent content in media can lead to an escalation in both physical and relational aggression.
Moreover, the exposure desensitizes individuals to violence, making them less likely to perceive it negatively. Despite these findings, correlations do not necessarily mean causation; some researchers argue that individuals with a predisposition to aggression may just be more attracted to violent games.