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Assassination Generation: Video Games, Aggression, and the Psychology of Killing
The author of the 400,000-copy bestseller On Killing reveals how violent video games have ushered in a new era of mass homicide -- and what we must do about it.
Paducah, Kentucky, 1997: a 14-year-old boy shoots eight students in a prayer circle at his school.
Littleton, Colorado, 1999: two high school seniors kill a teacher, twelve other students, and then themselves.
Utoya, Norway, 2011: a political extremist shoots and kills sixty-nine participants in a youth summer camp.
Newtown, Connecticut, 2012: a troubled 20-year-old man kills 20 children and six adults at the elementary school he once attended.
What links these and other horrific acts of mass murder? A young person's obsession with video games that teach to kill.
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, who in his perennial bestseller On Killing revealed that most of us are not "natural born killers" - and who has spent decades training soldiers, police, and others who keep us secure to overcome the intrinsic human resistance to harming others and to use firearms responsibly when necessary - turns a laser focus on the threat posed to our society by violent video games.
Drawing on crime statistics, cutting-edge social research, and scientific studies of the teenage brain, Col. Grossman shows how video games that depict antisocial, misanthropic, casually savage behavior can warp the mind - with potentially deadly results. His book will become the focus of a new national conversation about video games and the epidemic of mass murders that they have unleashed.
Paducah, Kentucky, 1997: a 14-year-old boy shoots eight students in a prayer circle at his school.
Littleton, Colorado, 1999: two high school seniors kill a teacher, twelve other students, and then themselves.
Utoya, Norway, 2011: a political extremist shoots and kills sixty-nine participants in a youth summer camp.
Newtown, Connecticut, 2012: a troubled 20-year-old man kills 20 children and six adults at the elementary school he once attended.
What links these and other horrific acts of mass murder? A young person's obsession with video games that teach to kill.
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, who in his perennial bestseller On Killing revealed that most of us are not "natural born killers" - and who has spent decades training soldiers, police, and others who keep us secure to overcome the intrinsic human resistance to harming others and to use firearms responsibly when necessary - turns a laser focus on the threat posed to our society by violent video games.
Drawing on crime statistics, cutting-edge social research, and scientific studies of the teenage brain, Col. Grossman shows how video games that depict antisocial, misanthropic, casually savage behavior can warp the mind - with potentially deadly results. His book will become the focus of a new national conversation about video games and the epidemic of mass murders that they have unleashed.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2016
65 people are currently reading
1148 people want to read
About the author
Dave Grossman
62 books283 followersLt. Col Dave Grossman is the author of On Killing and On Combat as well as several science fiction books.
In 1998 Lt. Colonel Grossman retired from the military as Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University. His career includes service in the United States Army as a sergeant in the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division, a platoon leader in the 9th Infantry Division (United States), a general staff officer, a company commander in the 7th Infantry Division (United States) as well as the U.S. Army Rangers and a teacher of psychology at West Point.
Grossman's first book, ''On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society'' is an analysis of the physiological processes involved with killing another human being. In it, he reveals evidence that most people have a phobic-level response to violence, and that soldiers need to be specifically trained to kill. In addition, he details the physical effects that violent stresses produce on humans, ranging from tunnel vision, changes in sonic perception, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Grossman argues that the techniques used by armies to train soldiers to kill are mirrored in certain types of video games. The conclusion he draws is that playing violent video games, particularly Light gun shooters of the First-person shooter-variety (where the player holds a weapon-like game controller), train children in the use of weapons and, more importantly, harden them emotionally to the task of murder by simulating the killing of hundreds or thousands of opponents in a single typical video game.
His second book, ''On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace'', is an extension of the first, intended to provide coping strategies for dealing with the physiological and psychological effects of violence for people forced to kill in their line of work (soldiers and police officers).
Grossman uses blunt language that draws the ire of gamers - during the heights of video game controversy, he was interviewed on the content of his books, and repeatedly used the term "murder simulator" to describe first-person shooter games.
Since his retirement from the Army, Grossman has founded the Killology Research Group and continues to educate law enforcement officers and soldiers in the techniques he has studied for improving outcomes in lethal encounters. He also speaks at civilian events on ways to reduce violence in society and deal with the aftermath of violent events such as school shootings.
In 1998 Lt. Colonel Grossman retired from the military as Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University. His career includes service in the United States Army as a sergeant in the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division, a platoon leader in the 9th Infantry Division (United States), a general staff officer, a company commander in the 7th Infantry Division (United States) as well as the U.S. Army Rangers and a teacher of psychology at West Point.
Grossman's first book, ''On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society'' is an analysis of the physiological processes involved with killing another human being. In it, he reveals evidence that most people have a phobic-level response to violence, and that soldiers need to be specifically trained to kill. In addition, he details the physical effects that violent stresses produce on humans, ranging from tunnel vision, changes in sonic perception, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Grossman argues that the techniques used by armies to train soldiers to kill are mirrored in certain types of video games. The conclusion he draws is that playing violent video games, particularly Light gun shooters of the First-person shooter-variety (where the player holds a weapon-like game controller), train children in the use of weapons and, more importantly, harden them emotionally to the task of murder by simulating the killing of hundreds or thousands of opponents in a single typical video game.
His second book, ''On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace'', is an extension of the first, intended to provide coping strategies for dealing with the physiological and psychological effects of violence for people forced to kill in their line of work (soldiers and police officers).
Grossman uses blunt language that draws the ire of gamers - during the heights of video game controversy, he was interviewed on the content of his books, and repeatedly used the term "murder simulator" to describe first-person shooter games.
Since his retirement from the Army, Grossman has founded the Killology Research Group and continues to educate law enforcement officers and soldiers in the techniques he has studied for improving outcomes in lethal encounters. He also speaks at civilian events on ways to reduce violence in society and deal with the aftermath of violent events such as school shootings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
December 14, 2016
Let's take a moment of silence for this amazing book description. Let's see if I get this... A Colonel wrote a book about a social phenomenon using scientific data? Seems legit enough in my opinion. I haven't read this because over the years I've read hundreds of scientific articles about violence and video games and I seriously doubt I'll learn something new. Also, the book description says it all. When I started reading scientific articles about this phenomenon I thought that video games contributed to violence. I was amazed when I started reading the conclusions of those studies. The link between violence (especially murder) and video games is residual. There's no solid data that proves that you're more prone to violence if you play video games. The scientific literature about violence, delinquency, etc, etc, doesn't even qualify playing video games as a risk factor to engage in those kind of behaviors. PLUS, "the epidemic of mass murders that they have unleashed."??? Sorry but you're talking about what? For something to be qualified as an epidemic it needs to spread and have an huge representation... where is that representation? Because some residual cases happened? And please, it's not because in ONE case sixty people died that we must call a mass murder an "video game killing epidemic spree". Seriously what is this? Are video games the new MORAL PANIC? Is this a tentative to spread fake data around to see if people get scared? Seriously it amazes me! What's next? Maybe write a follow up book about how gangsta rap spread an epidemic of mass murders?? Ice Cube sang about that...maybe it would be an awesome idea! Or how about one book about how driving a car contributes to an epidemic of beatings? For the sake of science, in your next book, leave science alone. Because there are millions of people that don't know what the scientific literature finds. And then, those people believe in what others write, even if they twist stuff up.
March 12, 2019
DNF- I skimmed the middle part of the book since it was just a repetitive fearmongering self promotion. If he had just presented the facts and studies without all the hyperbolic crap I might have respected him a little more. This is just another older generation saying something is ruining the children with video games as the latest scapegoat instead of taking responsibility as parents and actually doing their job. The same thing happened in the 90s with D&D and in the 80s with metal music.
November 26, 2018
“Assassination Generation” is the most important book I’ve read this year.
Filled with powerful information and backed with data, this is a book every parent should read.
We don’t let our children smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or own firearms, yet we allow them access to violent media including TV, movies and video games. The latter, video games, are likely the worst because instead of being a passive viewer of the violence, our children are taking an active role in directing the violent actions of their game character.
Many of the recent school massacres have had a few things in common - the perpetrators were loners, did not participate in organized sports and were exposed to violent media. And some of the most atrocious games give more points for head shots and reward violence against women.
Studies have shown that the young brain changes as a result of playing these games. The frontal lobe, which is used for judgement, disengages and the mid-brain, which controls our fight or flight instincts, takes over. The games are becoming increasingly more realistic, putting our children in a world where killing is rewarded and having empathy leads to failure.
Many good people, including Lt. Col. Grossman, are working to raise awareness of this assault on our children, but face strong lobbies with deep pockets. For example, World of Warcraft earns $1.8 billion annually (10 million monthly subscriptions at $15/month)!
It’s up to us, the community working with parents & teachers to lead the change.
I strongly encourage you - take the challenge now!
http://www.takethechallengenow.net
Filled with powerful information and backed with data, this is a book every parent should read.
We don’t let our children smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or own firearms, yet we allow them access to violent media including TV, movies and video games. The latter, video games, are likely the worst because instead of being a passive viewer of the violence, our children are taking an active role in directing the violent actions of their game character.
Many of the recent school massacres have had a few things in common - the perpetrators were loners, did not participate in organized sports and were exposed to violent media. And some of the most atrocious games give more points for head shots and reward violence against women.
Studies have shown that the young brain changes as a result of playing these games. The frontal lobe, which is used for judgement, disengages and the mid-brain, which controls our fight or flight instincts, takes over. The games are becoming increasingly more realistic, putting our children in a world where killing is rewarded and having empathy leads to failure.
Many good people, including Lt. Col. Grossman, are working to raise awareness of this assault on our children, but face strong lobbies with deep pockets. For example, World of Warcraft earns $1.8 billion annually (10 million monthly subscriptions at $15/month)!
It’s up to us, the community working with parents & teachers to lead the change.
I strongly encourage you - take the challenge now!
http://www.takethechallengenow.net
January 4, 2019
I generally don’t end books before finishing, but this one is a little much. The book is essentially a hit-piece against the media and video game industry, blaming it for all the violence-centred ills of Americana. Really difficult to take seriously.
Some thoughts:
- Calling violence a worldwide phenomenon - it really isn’t pp19
- Various points of praise doled out for the prison-military-industrial complex.. like this is somehow helping. “Let’s shove more people in prison to reduce the crime rate.”
- Cherry picking stats that are horrible but with no mention that violence is actually dropping overall pp28 then mentioning “crime is down” on pp30
- A strange reference to older medical tech that would increase the murder rate if doctors weren’t so skilled. pp29
- calls guns “just a tool” having little effect on mass murders, but yet a video game, which is perhaps a tool to entertain (or offend) is causing juvenile
murders.
This is pretty much a call to censor “bad” violence on screens or tv as stupid and idiotically as it’s always been. I have no doubt there were Roman’s calling for the end to Colosseum pugilist games because it was making people homicidal.
With respect to the authors, this one is pretty absurd.
Some thoughts:
- Calling violence a worldwide phenomenon - it really isn’t pp19
- Various points of praise doled out for the prison-military-industrial complex.. like this is somehow helping. “Let’s shove more people in prison to reduce the crime rate.”
- Cherry picking stats that are horrible but with no mention that violence is actually dropping overall pp28 then mentioning “crime is down” on pp30
- A strange reference to older medical tech that would increase the murder rate if doctors weren’t so skilled. pp29
- calls guns “just a tool” having little effect on mass murders, but yet a video game, which is perhaps a tool to entertain (or offend) is causing juvenile
murders.
This is pretty much a call to censor “bad” violence on screens or tv as stupid and idiotically as it’s always been. I have no doubt there were Roman’s calling for the end to Colosseum pugilist games because it was making people homicidal.
With respect to the authors, this one is pretty absurd.
November 22, 2016
With the rise of mass killings since 1975 it is easy to blame guns [which the author suggests is not the real reason] instead citing studies that youth are being desensitized to violence and death by video games and other sources that teach and applaud violence. I recommend this study to parents, educators, entertainers, political leaders, and all media personnel. As both a retired teacher and retired United States Marine, I find Assassination Generation thought provoking. This was a free advance read copy through Goodreads.com.
March 13, 2017
Every. Parent. Needs. To. Read. This. Book.
In our media-, electronics-, death-obsessed culture, we have got to get a handle on things before it gets even worse, and the first step is restricting children's access to violent video games (in addition to access to violent movies and TV... followed by limiting their screen time to a reasonable amount). I was surprised by how readable this text was, given all the statistics and studies within the pages. The indisputable, scientific evidence between interaction with violent media and violence acted out in real life will astound, and quite frankly, sicken, you.
P.S. I have a hunch for the reason this book's average rating isn't better: many of the "1" ratings are from people who never actually read the book, but only read the subtitle and got offended because they themselves are gamers. Boo-hoo.
February 7, 2017
I feel bad giving this book such a low rating as I really enjoyed the author's previous books On Killing and On Combat. Working in the field of mental health I understand the concern for video games and violence, but this could have been a chapter in a book as it felt really repetitive. I guess it might be interesting and/or provide some insight for parents.
February 4, 2025
I see the video game lobby found this book… though I think the author discounts SSRIs too much (a lot of evidence has emerged that they’re actually quite detrimental), violent video games are definitely an issue in our society, especially among boys. I don’t think I know a guy my age (I’m a millennial) who hasn’t played violent games a ton. Which is a problem, because video games are bad for two reasons: they make you stupid and they take over your life. I’m so glad I have never been into them. I hope everyone stuck in their (metaphorical) grip can escape.
October 16, 2017
The book provides solid statistics and makes a good argument for intervention and regulation of the video game industry as it relates to young people. The biggest problem I had with it is that it was very heavy handed. I would have appreciated the opportunity to review the evidence and make my own decision without being told (repeatedly) the conclusion I should draw from the information presented.
February 12, 2019
Not bad, I'd give it about a B+
Very informative but a bit overly heavy-handed at points. Needs more research and focus on directly pursuing the positive and pro-social behaviors that entirely negate the malicious elements. But, for the perspective it brandishes, very thorough and well-supported.
Very informative but a bit overly heavy-handed at points. Needs more research and focus on directly pursuing the positive and pro-social behaviors that entirely negate the malicious elements. But, for the perspective it brandishes, very thorough and well-supported.
July 6, 2018
Big on assertions, small on support.
October 28, 2019
Not a huge fan of the author making plugs for previous books/himself every chapter but the information provided was very, VERY eye opening. I'm not a parent but I'm a middle school teacher and it makes me worried for my students.
April 22, 2019
I like the military connection, but I also think it plays into some scare tactics. Yes, the mass murder rate has jumped, but the actual crime rate is as low as it was in the 60s. I agree that children shouldn’t be playing first shooter games and that we desensitize at young ages. However, in my opinion, the media shapes due to the information overload and this medium itself raising the next generation. We are teaching a generation how to be without actual education. A lot of this book is repetitive. I enjoyed the statistics, but you can only explain the same three points so many times.
September 29, 2020
It's a strange thing in modern culture. "We" are to be shielded from subliminal messages because they might make us buy CocaCola. We need to be protected from images of smoking because it might make smoking seem cool. We also need to be protected from early childhood PUBLIC exposure to all that is holy and good lest it influence young minds. There are many other things from which we must be shielded. On the other hand the violence, depravity and other swill of so called "entertainment" is harmless. Aye, sure. Only a fool believes such a thing, and there are plenty of them out there in the world. Those same fools then blame guns, or ... for the inevitable spillover of virtual depravity into the real world.
April 14, 2022
A tiresome rant of a book dressed up as a wannabe pseudo-academic study of video game violence. The whole thing is short but also incredibly repetitive with it. The conservative author rants and raves about the evils of the video game industry and as so often happens just cherry picks the studies and data that backs up his arguments. Don't expect an even-handed approach here; despite professing to be "neutral" on the subject of gun violence, he's clearly pro gun ownership and doesn't even find it odd when listing the arsenal of heavy weaponry that, for example, the Sandy Hook killer used to commit his massacre. No, it's easy to scapegoat video games. Oh, and for the record, one of the "violent" games mentioned is TOMB RAIDER...
December 26, 2016
I am a gamer and an educator. The thing to keep in mind is that this book doesn't want call for a ban on video games, but it does ask us to care about the visual images and media messages that we are feeding young children who do not have the coping mechanisms or filters to process the contents. The research in this book matches what I have observed in my elementary students for years. Adults who play video games should read this so they can understand how consumption of violent games effects younger gamers and what we can do to protect them.
April 17, 2018
A must read!
Every parent, educator, needs to read this book!! I would not have believed the effects of these games . But unfortunately We are dealing with this first hand. These are not the computer games of 20 years ago. And back then the internet was not readily available. This is today's epidemic. The plus in this book is the steps that can be taken to address this issue.
Every parent, educator, needs to read this book!! I would not have believed the effects of these games . But unfortunately We are dealing with this first hand. These are not the computer games of 20 years ago. And back then the internet was not readily available. This is today's epidemic. The plus in this book is the steps that can be taken to address this issue.
March 19, 2025
Fantastic read. Discusses link between video games and violence, and links them well. I would recommend to anyone, this wasn’t on my radar, but I think it was well written.
I think it offers a real solution to the violence in the atmosphere today, and that’s what I’m here for: real solutions.
Links CoD, GTA5, and HALO to active shooters, calling them trainers. He is correct, point blank, period.
I think it offers a real solution to the violence in the atmosphere today, and that’s what I’m here for: real solutions.
Links CoD, GTA5, and HALO to active shooters, calling them trainers. He is correct, point blank, period.
March 30, 2018
Every parent should read this book. What an eye opener. How people can still deny the negative impact and proof that violent video games and media have on our youth is beyond my comprehension. Our society needs to stop the denial and take action. The longer we deny, the more our world will deteriorate with an increase in school shootings and other horrifying events.
October 15, 2018
I cannot express just how amazing this book is. I listened to it (read by the auth0r) and now am so much more better informed about the causes of the mass murders that have been present in the world's history since the 90s. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who thinks that banning guns is the answer -- IT'S NOT!
November 27, 2016
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
This book does a convincing study on the connection between violent video games and violence in society. More need to read this and admit the connection exists and act to reduce the advertising and glorifying of these games.
This book does a convincing study on the connection between violent video games and violence in society. More need to read this and admit the connection exists and act to reduce the advertising and glorifying of these games.
August 11, 2018
I went into this book hesitant because I believed that there was more to this epidemic than video games. This book convinced me that this is one of he biggest challenges facing our country. Plenty of information, but well explained.
June 1, 2019
Must read!
This book was eye opening and disturbing! I wish all parents and educators would read this book! We have to do something about violent media and especially violent video games!
This book was eye opening and disturbing! I wish all parents and educators would read this book! We have to do something about violent media and especially violent video games!
December 24, 2016
don't know if I'd attribute THAT much evil to video games.
December 31, 2016
Everyone should read this book; it's not just about video games, but all forms of audio visual media. Extremely well researched, and with a viable answer at the end.
May 18, 2017
A must read for parents and educators. Misrated it with 4 stars. Should be a 5 star book because of the well documented content.
February 1, 2018
I consider this a must read for people with kids or who work with kids.
March 20, 2018
Excellent explanation about how the real culprit in school shootings is violent video games and other media rather than guns
February 22, 2019
READ this book. Buy a copy for everyone you know, especially parents and teachers.
April 1, 2021
I love Lt Col Dave Grossman and LOVED On Killing. With that said, I was disappointed that such a powerful writer, researcher, and psychologist wrote a book to scare moms into changing their behavior through anecdotes insinuating that if you let your child play violent video games, your child will kill you, was not a very good way of getting your message across.
The conclusion that video games will cause and does cause mass shootings is a bit far fetched. I think far too many things have changed at the same time to relate one specific change to the uptick in violent crime. Social media, YouTube, more immersive video games, violence being portrayed on 24 hour news cycles, less pro-social activities for children, and the desensitization due to increases in violent media have all been on the rise at the same time. It's impossible to pinpoint just one factor that was the cause.
I do think that the impulsivity, increases in aggression, decreases in social skills, and lack of empathy are all things that I see as a mental health professional around video game use in children and adolescence. It is unfortunate that Lt Col Dave Grossman is focusing less on the real world problems that video games and violent media creates, and wrote a book to scare moms into fearing for their lives.
After reading this book, as a video game play therapist, it reemphasizes the importance of my work. The truth is that children will play video games, they will play violent video games. I do believe that the US should make it illegal for children to buy MA games (which it currently is not illegal). I do believe that parents should provide limits and talk to children about the violence that they consume and encourage them to join groups that promote pro-social behavior. Do I think that getting rid of violent video games in our youth will stop the uptick in violent crime? Maybe slightly but we live in a violent culture. I see it like a dam with many holes, plugging up one hole, is not the solution.
The problem here is the people that deny that exposing young children to extreme violence with no limits or talking to about this violence will not support pro-social behavior. Pretending that there are no negative affects of consuming A LOT of violent media and saying, "this is a farce" outright, is putting your head in the sand. Just as taking this information from this book and taking it as gods word to your eyes/ears, is also a problem.
The answer is somewhere in the middle. The question that we should ask ourselves is, what is the effect of violent media on our children? What type of limits should we put on children and video games? What type of activities should we advocate for our children to develop pro-social behavior?
We should not parent out of fear but out of love/understanding. Intention and attention is key.
The conclusion that video games will cause and does cause mass shootings is a bit far fetched. I think far too many things have changed at the same time to relate one specific change to the uptick in violent crime. Social media, YouTube, more immersive video games, violence being portrayed on 24 hour news cycles, less pro-social activities for children, and the desensitization due to increases in violent media have all been on the rise at the same time. It's impossible to pinpoint just one factor that was the cause.
I do think that the impulsivity, increases in aggression, decreases in social skills, and lack of empathy are all things that I see as a mental health professional around video game use in children and adolescence. It is unfortunate that Lt Col Dave Grossman is focusing less on the real world problems that video games and violent media creates, and wrote a book to scare moms into fearing for their lives.
After reading this book, as a video game play therapist, it reemphasizes the importance of my work. The truth is that children will play video games, they will play violent video games. I do believe that the US should make it illegal for children to buy MA games (which it currently is not illegal). I do believe that parents should provide limits and talk to children about the violence that they consume and encourage them to join groups that promote pro-social behavior. Do I think that getting rid of violent video games in our youth will stop the uptick in violent crime? Maybe slightly but we live in a violent culture. I see it like a dam with many holes, plugging up one hole, is not the solution.
The problem here is the people that deny that exposing young children to extreme violence with no limits or talking to about this violence will not support pro-social behavior. Pretending that there are no negative affects of consuming A LOT of violent media and saying, "this is a farce" outright, is putting your head in the sand. Just as taking this information from this book and taking it as gods word to your eyes/ears, is also a problem.
The answer is somewhere in the middle. The question that we should ask ourselves is, what is the effect of violent media on our children? What type of limits should we put on children and video games? What type of activities should we advocate for our children to develop pro-social behavior?
We should not parent out of fear but out of love/understanding. Intention and attention is key.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews