Professor
links killers to violent video games
Friday, February 25, 2005 • By ANDREA
EILENBERGER • The Express-Times
PHILLIPSBURG -- Lt. Col. David Grossman talked Thursday
about the addition that most children indulge in on a
regular basis -- video games.
The West Point psychology professor and violent crime
specialist used powerful images and statistics to make the
connection between regular violent video game players and a
heightened rate of criminal behavior. All student killers,
including the Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan
Klebold, played bloody video games and watched violent
movies on a regular basis, he said.
Using scanned images of two different brain activity
patterns, he compared the differences. One was covered in
red, while the other remained relatively blank. Red
indicated brain activity when the viewer considered killing
or injuring someone in the game.
Grossman pointed to the color-free brain, explaining
"all the school killer kids had this brain."
Grossman testified as an expert in the trials of Timothy
McVeigh, also known as the Oklahoma City bomber, and the
Columbine shooters Harris and Klebold.
He serves as director of the research organization
"Killology" and has authored two books on the subject.
Earlier in the day, Grossman had held a session with
social workers and administrators. Later, all district
faculty were dismissed early to attend Grossman's
presentation at Phillipsburg High School.
"His presentations are powerful, meaningful, and right
on target," said Bob Pierfdey, the school's student
assistance coordinator. "In my experience, these are the
situations that you'd like to say can't be true, but in
reality are the ones we need to listen to."
Grossman said there were 48 deaths in schools last year,
and 35 the year before. He said that increasing the number
of police in schools and tightening security are necessary
stop-gap measures, but they are not enough.
Eliminating violent games and television is key,
Grossman said.
"Here, the child is not a passive receiver, but an
active participant," he said.
© 2005 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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