“Bad Parenting”: When Horror Video Games Expose Childhood Trauma

In the world of contemporary video games, some titles dare to tackle deeply sensitive themes. This is the case with "Bad Parenting", a psychological horror game that, since its release in August 2024, has sparked intense debate about how interactive media can address the subject of child abuse.

Featuring a child named Ron confronted by a terrifying entity named Mr. Red Face, this game explores childhood trauma through the lens of supernatural horror. For some, it's a work of awareness that gives a voice to victims of abuse; for others, it's a sick exploitation of real-life trauma. Let's analyze this controversial game and the ethical questions it raises about our relationship with parenting.

A Disturbing Concept: Horror as a Metaphor for Abuse

"Bad Parenting" is a first-person psychological horror game that places the player in the shoes of Ron, a young boy living in a small apartment. The game's controversial premise is based on a metaphorical view of child abuse: the child is confronted by a terrifying character named Mr. Red Face, a figure who turns out to be, over the course of the game, a symbolic representation of his violent and alcoholic father.

According to the game's Steam page, "Mr. Red Face is a fictional character created by adults to educate their children. He is said to appear late at night to deliver gifts to good children. But is Mr. Red Face's story really that simple?" This story takes place in a small apartment where Ron, the game's protagonist, encounters terrifying supernatural phenomena while trying to protect his family from the evil plans of the red-faced man.

The game uses horror genre conventions to symbolize the trauma experienced by abused children. As the player progresses, they discover the truth behind this supernatural entity: an allegory for parental abuse. The developer, known as 2OO2, explicitly warned players in the game's description: "Warning: This game contains disturbing scenes that may trigger childhood trauma."

Features of the game "Bad Parenting"

The controversy: between denunciation and exploitation of trauma

The game's reception has been polarizing, revealing strong positions on the legitimacy of using video game horror to address a sensitive topic like child abuse.

The defenders' argument

Advocates of the game emphasize its value as an awareness-raising tool:

• A powerful metaphorical representation : By using supernatural horror as a metaphor, the game would make visible the invisible terror experienced by abused children.
• A cathartic story : Some evidence suggests that gaming can offer a form of catharsis for people who have experienced similar traumas, by giving tangible form to their experiences.
• Awareness through immersion : A game commentator explains that the game could be "a very interesting horror game that shows how a child abused by his parents perceives the world around him."
• Interactivity as a vector of empathy Unlike a film or a book, video games allow the player to experience the situation in the first person, which could strengthen empathy towards victims of abuse.

Criticisms of detractors

Opponents of gambling put forward several ethical arguments:

• The risk of retraumatization : For people who experienced childhood abuse, playing this type of game could trigger traumatic memories.
• The transformation of suffering into entertainment : Some critics believe that using child abuse as a video game theme trivializes a painful reality.
• Potentially inaccurate representation : The short format of the game (20-40 minutes) would not allow for the necessary depth in dealing with a subject as complex as abuse.
• Allegations against the developer : Controversies regarding the developer have also emerged, as suggested by a wiki dedicated to the game which mentions: "Due to recent allegations against the developer, this wiki may be disabled soon."

At the heart of the debate: the psychological impact of the Bad Parenting game

A central aspect of the controversy is the impact the game can have on its players, particularly those who have been personally affected by child abuse.

The disturbing testimonies

A comment on IMDb describes a disturbing experience: "This game shows us that there are really parents who mistreat and abuse their children. It was so disturbing and traumatic that such a thing actually exists."

This type of testimony raises a fundamental question: can a video game really raise awareness of the realities of child abuse, or does it simply risk exploiting trauma to arouse strong emotions?

Narrative Content Analysis

The game's narrative explores deeply sensitive themes. According to the website badparenting.app, "Bad Parenting Story follows Ron, a young boy caught between reality and supernatural horror. Living with a workaholic mother and an alcoholic father, Ron encounters Mr. Red Face, a mysterious entity who gifts him with a prophetic doll."

This narrative appears to function as an allegory for the psychological mechanisms developed by abused children to cope with their situation. The supernatural figure of Mr. Red Face would represent the terror inspired by an abusive parent, while the doll would symbolize dissociation, a common psychological defense mechanism among traumatized children.

Positive parenting in the face of the representation of abuse

In this controversial context, it is essential to remember what positive parenting represents, which is the exact opposite of the behaviors depicted in the game.

The principles of positive parenting as a counter-model

Positive parenting is based on fundamental principles that the game highlights by contrast:

• Respect for the child as a person : The opposite of the violent father figure in the game.
• Compassionate communication : Absent in Ron's traumatic universe.
• The establishment of a secure framework : What the child of the game does not know.
• Listening to the child's needs : Completely ignored by the protagonist's fictional parents.

As the World Health Organization points out: "Abuse causes stress that is associated with disruption of early brain development. Extreme stress can affect the development of the nervous and immune systems."

Prevention as a response

Faced with the disturbing realities evoked by the game, child protection experts are reiterating the importance of prevention and parenting support programs.

UNICEF simply defines child abuse as "all forms of physical and psychological violence suffered by a child." This violence, whether psychological, as Action Enfance points out ("Psychological violence is a form of mistreatment of others without direct physical violence being used"), or physical, has lasting consequences on the child's development.

Ethical issues and responsibility of video game creators

The controversy surrounding "Bad Parenting" raises broader questions about the ethics of video game creation and the responsibility of developers when addressing such sensitive topics.

The Limits of Creative Freedom

To what extent can a video game creator take on such sensitive issues as child abuse? This fundamental question divides the gaming and creative communities.

On the one hand, defending freedom of artistic expression and recognizing the potential of the video game medium to inspire empathy and reflection. On the other, questioning the ethical responsibility of creators and the potentially harmful impact of certain works on vulnerable audiences.

The paradox of interactivity

Unlike a film or book, which presents problematic behaviors, a video game requires the player to be an actor in a simulated universe. This specificity makes the debate particularly complex.

Interactivity can enhance the emotional impact and understanding of traumatic situations, but it can also blur the line between representation and simulation of problematic behaviors.

Beyond the controversy, a call for vigilance

"Bad Parenting" reveals, beyond the divisions it creates, our collective difficulty in calmly addressing the subject of child abuse. The discomfort caused by this game perhaps reflects our growing awareness of the reality of this violence and the need to confront it.

While the controversy surrounding the game may seem futile, it at least has the merit of breaking the silence that too often surrounds child abuse. It reminds us that behind the horrific metaphors of the game lie concrete realities to which our society must respond through prevention, detection, and family support.

Because beyond the debates over the legitimacy of a video game, it is the real protection of children that should mobilize our energies. As Article 19 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child reminds us, States undertake to "protect the child against all forms of violence, injury, or physical or mental brutality": an ideal that goes far beyond the boundaries of the virtual world to challenge us in our daily reality.