SCIENCE IN THE NEWS DAILY

Violent Video Games -- the Myths and the Facts

from the Christian Science Monitor

True or false: Violent video games cause children to become more aggressive. Sorry, that was a trick question.

Despite much bandying of statistics and loud talking by critics on both sides of the argument, the real answer is that there is no real answer—at least not one that's been proved scientifically.

So say Cheryl Olson and Lawrence Kutner in their new book, "Grand Theft Childhood." "In fact, much of the information in the popular press about the effects of violent video games is wrong," write the husband and wife team, who direct the Center for Mental Health and Media at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.