Video games are often defended as harmless entertainment or criticized with vague warnings about addiction and violence. But retired Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman argues that the conversation needs to go deeper.

Speaking on Trending with Timmerie, Grossman explained that the real concern is not simply screen time, but the psychological and physiological effects violent video games can have on children and teens.

Grossman, a former Army Ranger, psychology professor at West Point, and trainer for military and law enforcement agencies, has spent decades studying the psychology of violence. In his book Assassination Generation, he examines how violent video games affect the brain, especially in young people.

According to Grossman, brain scan research shows that while playing violent games, children experience a surge of fight-or-flight hormones that can suppress rational thinking and empathy. He argues this desensitization to violence becomes dangerous when combined with another major issue: sleep deprivation.

Grossman described how modern video games are intentionally designed to keep players awake for long periods of time. He explained that the gaming industry studies how to create what he calls an “alpha state,” where players lose track of time and remain mentally stimulated for hours. Many players suddenly realize it is early morning after an entire night of gaming. He warned that chronic sleep deprivation damages judgment, increases aggression, and contributes to mental illness.

He compared the effects of severe sleep deprivation to intoxication, saying that after 24 hours without sleep, impairment can resemble being legally drunk. By the third day without sleep, hallucinations and symptoms similar to schizophrenia may occur.

Grossman connected sleep deprivation to rising rates of suicide, traffic deaths, chronic pain, and substance abuse among young people. He shared the heartbreaking story of his own nephew, who isolated himself for days playing a newly released video game before taking his own life.

Timmerie emphasized that many parents see gaming as normal social entertainment and may not recognize the long-term risks.

Grossman urged families to look carefully at the growing evidence surrounding violent games, especially the combined effects of desensitization and sleep loss. He believes the issue is not about condemning technology itself, but about protecting children’s emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being in a culture increasingly shaped by screens and constant stimulation.

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