Prosocial Video Games Reduce Aggression in Preschoolers, New Study Finds

Early childhood aggression can have long-term consequences, making effective interventions crucial. In collaboration with Prof. Dr. Philipp Kanske from the Technische Universität Dresden, Yan Li from the University of Helsinki, and Northeast Normal University, a new study explored whether prosocial video games can reduce aggressive behavior in Chinese preschoolers.

The experiment involved children aged 4 to 6, who were randomly assigned to play either a prosocial or a neutral video game. Results showed that children who played the prosocial game exhibited significantly less aggressive behavior compared to those in the neutral group. Importantly, this effect was mediated by a reduction in revenge motivation, especially in boys, while age did not play a moderating role.

These findings suggest that prosocial video games may be a promising tool for reducing aggression in young children, particularly by addressing revenge-driven motivations. The gender differences observed highlight the need for tailored approaches in early interventions.

For more details, read the full publication in Frontiers in Psychology:

Gan, X., Li, J., Wang, Y., Zhang, H., & Luo, Y. (2025). The effects of prosocial video games on aggressive behavior in Chinese preschoolers: The mediating role of aggressive motivation and the moderating effects of age and gender. Frontiers in Psychology. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1526493/full