GTA and Anger Management

[GTA hater]

Hello GTA fans,

 

when I was in the mental hospital I brought along GTA IV. It was a big hit. The people loved it. Just after a while the staff took it away from us. Too violent. Although everybody in the hospital was over 18.

 

I also think a huge game like GTA V could be used as an anti-depressant. It could seriously make a depressed person happy.

 

Anyway I wonderd whether playing GTA makes you more violent or does it release your anger and make you more mellow?

 

I noticed a little bit of both. When I die I am upset and when I kill I am calm.

 

Thank you for your insights.

[Polish_Trucker]

I wonder why they took IV way from you... hmmm

[Red XIII]

No disrespect but my mate was in a mental hospital for a few months and it was scary experience every time I went to visit him. Bringing in GTA to a place like that isn't the best idea tbh.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Red XIII

[oRRe13]

You could tell by your name and your sig saying Saints Row 4 is winner, that you have been in a mental hospital.

[Adriaan]

http://www.gtacounsellingservices.com/ange...chmondHill.aspx

 

On a more serious note, there actually has been studies done on this topic over the years. I remember one study used GTA in particular. Should be interesting to see how others feel.

[WildBrick142]

When internet company was just trolling me by randomly switching off my internet, I went to play GTA IV. I killed every single person in every [email protected] cafe. I have been so calm afterwards that I didn't care if they will bring it back or leave it off.

[Polish_Trucker]

http://www.gtacounsellingservices.com/ange...chmondHill.aspx

[wwinterj]

This seems like trolling but I'll just say no video game has any effect on my state of mind in the long run. Sure I get frustrated at times with games and some games story really cut deep such as Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy X and others story but it doesn't effect me for long. Games like films, music or any other forms of media can provide a lot of emotions.

[GTA hater]

You could tell by your name and your sig saying Saints Row 4 is winner, that you have been in a mental hospital.

Why is everybody always picking on me because of my user name?

[Remizov]

Sorry to hear about your friend, hope he is ok. Though the whole "punch a pillow when you are mad" is a myth and can actually make you more aggressive...

[BillGates]

OP is working for Deepsilver (SR4).

 

Get off now.

 

[saintsrow]

 

http://www.gtacounsellingservices.com/ange...chmondHill.aspx

 

On a more serious note, there actually has been studies done on this topic over the years. I remember one study used GTA in particular. Should be interesting to see how others feel.

Life imitates art I wonder how many false GTA search hits they get, and how many, if any, GTA-related inquiries they get, and if they have a standard answer for them.

 

More generally, it seems like virtual reality and immersive games would be useful mental health tools. Immersion can actually change thinking processes, like any intensive, interactive practice regimen. And studies are already showing that games can be used for deconditioning the triggers for PTSD.

 

It would be an interesting study to see what the experts determine is the right kind of game for various mental problems. It would be interesting to see if GTAV is the right answer for any mental conditions.

[YoungChrist]

http://www.gtacounsellingservices.com/ange...chmondHill.aspx

 

On a more serious note, there actually has been studies done on this topic over the years. I remember one study used GTA in particular. Should be interesting to see how others feel.

Life imitates art I wonder how many false GTA search hits they get, and how many, if any, GTA-related inquiries they get, and if they have a standard answer for them.

 

More generally, it seems like virtual reality and immersive games would be useful mental health tools. Immersion can actually change thinking processes, like any intensive, interactive practice regimen. And studies are already showing that games can be used for deconditioning the triggers for PTSD.

 

It would be an interesting study to see what the experts determine is the right kind of game for various mental problems. It would be interesting to see if GTAV is the right answer for any mental conditions.

GTA actually means Greater Toronto Area, but they probably get a few GTA related hits.

[Durden]

A relatively recent study proved that some video games can have a medicinal effect on people who are depressed or suffering from burn wounds. Also, people who play violent video games have a higher pain threshold than gamers who play softy games like golf. There are numerous other benefits found in the below articles.

 

Its all in this article right here.

 

There's even a sequel to the article right here.

[d3ex2]

Depression is serious and shouldn't be joked about. I get the impression you find it a bit of a joke. it's hard totell on the internet...

 

It is one of the worst diseases known. I have suffered from it for the last 8-9 years of my life. Medication and therapy is needed. I couldn't play video games or pretty do anything else for such a long time because of it. I still struggle to this very day. I want to go play a game, read a book or some as simple as walking out my house but depression stops me. It has ruined my life.

 

Video games and reading do help when I can actually do it but they don't cure it. Medication can't cure it. It takes the edge of it enough so that you can start to try function normally. You then start therapy to change the way you think. I've been through it all and every day is still a fight against it.

 

 

[davetopper]

When I get down and their really is nothing I can do about any of it, I fire up gta IV, get my favorite car, drive down to the parking facility down by the river, the cops never go in, raise the wanted level to the top and try to get away causing as much mayhem as possible.

 

I no not know why it is, but it does take the edge off, or maybe just takes your mind off the current problems. Probably the latter.

 

But I find it to be a release of sorts.

[Raavi]

Good riddance i'd say, there are a lot of people with a myriad of different mental disorders in such an institution. Violent video games aren't the thing to bring.

[Racecarlock]

I'd say if your mental disorder doesn't cause you to confuse fantasy with reality, then go for it. But even then, keep an eye on yourself. Have some others keep an eye on you too.

[kj2022]

GTA helped ease my aggression through school. It can be a good outlet as long as you have a generally clear mind.

[S1LV3R_W0LF]

This is actually a good topic if the purpose is serious.

 

I play video-games since I remember, around my 7 or 8 years, I didn't have a computer but I played in friends houses, then I had a few consoles and so on. I never had restrictions in the games I played and to be honest I never got any violence outbreaks after playing video-games, although that happened after watching some TV cartoons. I mean not beating on people or anything but me and my brother used to get "in adrenaline"after watching TV series with fights and such.

 

As for games they've been my company and my stress relief since I play them, now more then before they are a good distraction for this f*cked up real life world and all the problems, when I play I forget everything and games like GTA, or any game where you can charge over enemies are great for that, I transfer my anger, stress and frustrations to the game and not to real people.

 

Thats why in my perspective video-games and specially like GTA are good but BEFORE depression, a way to avoid it... but no one under depression should get close to any violent games, th games a person with a depression should play are easy games, maybe more strategic and with no violence at all, a disturbed mind will get worst when in contact with violent situations even if they are in a virtual world. And sometimes during those outbreaks people mix one thing to the other... take the example of that Asian kid, neglected by his parents and closed in his room for days playing FFVII, he made a shrine with a poster from Cloudres with candles and killed his parents with a Katana, because he thought by killing his "enemies" he would evolve and get new powers.

 

[sal7252]

You should get smacked senseless for how much of a moron you are..to the degree of infinity you're a complete idiot.

[Patriot_Action]

Dear Armchair Psychologists,

 

Please stop doing...that.

 

Sincerely,

The Psychology Community

 

 

 

P.S. I'm a graduate student in psychology, so I'll sit firmly atop my high horse on this one. No disrespect.

[GTA hater]

I am not making a joke out of depression or anger issues.

 

I have been more or less depressed since Fall 2007. I've been in institutions alot. I take medicine but it makes me only drowsy and uncomfortable.

 

I have episodes of the TV talking to me and even GTA IV has talked to me.

 

I noticed GTA and other games with cops in them made me be more resentful toward the police, which led to bad encounters.

 

 

To come back to topic, a game which really helped my anger was State of Emergency and I believe GTA V will do the same.

[CalgaryJay]

I don't know about if it'd help me for depression/sadness. But at least in terms of just being grumpy after a bad day at work, going on a rampage in GTA in the past certainly has helped me. As for depression, I suppose any form of entertainment that takes your mind off things would be a help, like video games.

[S1LV3R_W0LF]

Dear Armchair Psychologists,

 

Please stop doing...that.

 

Sincerely,

The Psychology Community

 

 

 

P.S. I'm a graduate student in psychology, so I'll sit firmly atop my high horse on this one. No disrespect.

And that was exactly directed to who? And since you have such degree I'd love to see what you have to say about it from the top of your horse, specially because my graduation had lot's of Psychology disciplines and my Girlfriend as a Master Degree in Psychology.

 

So I'd love to read your expertize in the subject.