People are more likely to blame video games for mass shootings if the suspect is white, study shows


There's another story to be told about the false association of violent video games and real-life violence.
Even as study after study has shown that video games don't significantly lead to real shootings, media outlets have continued to mention them in reports of crime and violence. Now, a study by the American Psychological Association published Monday shows that this false narrative is largely tied up in racial stereotypes, MIT Technology Review reports.
For one part of the study, students — who were 88 percent white and 65 percent female — read a made-up story about an either black or white 18-year-old school shooter who was apparently a "video game enthusiast," the study reads. Participants were then asked if they thought video games played a role in the crime. A "small but statistically significant" number more of them said the games contributed to the white suspect's motive but not the black suspect's motive, MIT Technology Review reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In the second part of the study, researchers used a database to compare local news coverage of shootings. Coverage of suspects' motives was markedly different based on the shooter's race, and video games were eight times more likely to be mentioned in stories about a white suspect over those about a black suspect, the study found.
Together, the two pieces of the study suggest "there are a lot of us out there who think we don’t have a racist cell in our body, but we are comfortable looking at certain explanations [for violence and crime] over others," one researcher on the study told MIT Technology Review. Read more about the study at MIT Technology Review, or find the whole thing here.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Is Prince Harry owed protection?
Talking Point The Duke of Sussex claims he has been singled out for 'unjustified and inferior treatment' over decision to withdraw round-the-clock security
By The Week UK
-
Crossword: April 20, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff
-
Sudoku hard: April 20, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Kenya arrests alleged ant smugglers
speed read Two young Belgians have been charged for attempting to smuggle ants out of the country to exotic pet buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judge ends Eric Adams case, Trump leverage
Speed Read Federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams were dismissed, as requested by Trump's Justice Department
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Texas arrests midwife on felony abortion charges
Speed Read Maria Margarita Rojas and an employee at one of her clinics are the first to be criminally charged under Texas' near-total abortion ban
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
South Carolina to execute prisoner by firing squad
speed read Death row inmate Brad Sigmon prefers the squad over the electric chair or lethal injection, his lawyer said
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Mexico extradites 29 cartel figures amid US tariff threat
Speed Read The extradited suspects include Rafael Caro Quintero, long sought after killing a US narcotics agent
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Leonard Peltier released from prison
Speed Read The Native American activist convicted of killing two FBI agents had his life sentence commuted by former President Joe Biden
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Ex-Sen. Bob Menendez sentenced to 11 years
Speed Read The former New Jersey senator was convicted on federal bribery and corruption charges last year
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Police ID driver of exploded Cybertruck, can't see motive
Speed Read An Army Green Beret detonated a homemade bomb in a Tesla Cybertruck in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US