Recent studies have shown that during the playing of violent online games, it is not increased aggression but rather alleviation in aggression that is critical in determining whether playing gaming has positive outcomes on the venting of aggression. Drawing from the aggression catharsis perspective and gaming research, we extend this line of investigation by exploring whether gaming results in a decrease in aggression, across a wide variety of games. Using data from a survey of 771 online game users in Korea, we examined the associations among Therapeutic Catharsis Seeking, Game Self-Efficacy, Big Five Personality Traits, Game genre (violent or nonviolent), Daily online gaming time, and Demographic variables. Results showed that therapeutic catharsis seeking and game self-efficacy decreased user aggression. Neuroticism negatively affected aggression while agreeableness enhanced the degree of aggression regardless of game genre. These findings have important implications for the use of gaming as a mood management tool.

Although many theoretical and empirical studies consider violent games, general causality between violent games and aggression or violence is ambiguity. To overcome such limitations, we try to identify the focal points of violent games. This study aims to explore the critical debate about violent games from research result in terms of heading in opposite directions. Furthermore, we analyzed the discourse of the violent game based on catharsis theory and cognitive neoassociation theory. Catharsis theory predicts that 'venting' aggression through exposure to violence will reduce the risk of later aggressive behavior. On the contrary, cognitive neoassociation theory posits that aversive events produce negative affect such as aggression. Several recent studies found little evidence for a relationship between violent games and aggression or violence. Given that aggression is not negative, it is reasonable to study the potential benefits of violent games. Therefore, we suggested several ways to application the violent games based on prior literature.

본 연구에서는 게임 이용자들이 게임에 과몰입하게 되는 심리적 욕구나 욕망을 보다 정교한 방식으로 탐색하고자 하였다. 기존 게임 과몰입의 영향 변수들과 더불어 치유적 카타르시스와 자아 효능감 이론을 적용하여 온라인 게임 이용자 489명을 대상으로 그 효과를 검증한 결과 치유적 카타르시스와 게임 자아 효능감 요인이 게임의 중독적 현상을 심화시키는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 게임 이용자들이 현실이 야기한 결핍과 불충족된 욕구에 대한 방어기제를 작동시키면서 암묵적인 자아 치유를 위해 게임에 더욱 과몰입 하고 있음을 시사한다. 본 연구는 게임 이용이 게임 과몰입으로 이어지는 내면의 심리를 파악하는데 유용한 근거로 활용할 수 있을 것이다.