Are violent video games and movies really that bad for kids?

Nicholas H asked:


I have a 5 year old son, and I've always been very flexible on what types of movies and video games he plays. I've always been more concerned with limiting the time to video games and movies, not so much the content. He's watched band of brothers with me, and likes it alot. He also likes to play violent video games like Halo and Saints Row. I know the concept of letting my son shoot cops on a video game is repulsive to some, but I've always tried to catch him off guard with questions considering the difference between reality and movies/games and he almost reacts like I'm stupid for asking, of course he knows the difference. He has a good sense or morality to him, and even asks very inquisitive questions like "Why are they fighting each other, why are the Germans the bad guys, etc." It actually invokes a lot of thoughtful questions from him, yet he never expresses any violent sentiments at all (except maybe while playing a game). Any thoughts?
One problem I have with my line of thought, though, is that movies with a lot of sexual material would be okay, which I don't agree with. My half-ass rationale though is that children, boys especially, are born with a natural sense of aggression and violence, they can understand it. Not to say aggression and violence are good virtues, but they seem to comprehend it and its implications. Yet sexual material is beyond their grasp until after puberty (even then it's questionable). There's something wrong with the fact that violence is more acceptable than sex, but I think that's the truth. Boys wrestling and playing guns with each other is a common sight, playing "first date" with other girls is not.

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