Videogames and Violence: Moral Crusades Against Electronic Games in Brazil and Around the World

First Brazilian book to critically address the topic of “video games and violence.” To what extent is the relationship between video games and violence genuine, and should it encourage a relentless fight against the most violent games? The controversies surrounding video games are intertwined with their own history. In this book, the author, Salah H. Khaled Jr., rejects the Manichean explanation that violent games provoke aggression and desensitization. In addition to analyzing journalistic and political discourse in cases of violence involving gamers, the author draws on extensive bibliography to argue that many studies have methodological flaws and fail to reliably establish a causal relationship between games and aggression, or between games and a loss of sensitivity to real violence. The book also shows that the video game industry has exploited the controversy to its advantage, often deliberately triggering panic, seeking only financial compensation. With degrees in Criminology, Criminal Law, and History, Salah H. Khaled Jr. is an avid gamer. This book, written with rigor and wit, is a quick read and brings together discussions from diverse fields, including psychology, ethics, journalism, and pop culture.