When I came across Assassination Generation in the library, I figured it would be an interesting, if maybe somewhat controversial read. After all, the subtitle of this book is ‘Video Games, Aggression, and the Psychology of Killing’. I hadn’t expected it to be so disturbing. This book rattled me to my core.
Dave Grossman, the author of this book, is not a ‘media specialist’ or something similarly vague, like all-too-many authors of articles and books on the effects of video games on children. He’s a retired Lt. Col. in the US Army, but also a former West Point Psychology professor and a recognized expert in the field of human aggression and the roots of violent crime, like killing. The reason I’m leading with this, is because I was struck by how uniquely qualified this man is to talk about the psychology of killing.
[Read more…] about ‘Assassination Generation’ by Dave Grossman [Saturday Morning Review]