The negative impact of video games on youth has been a hotly debated topic since before Pac-man ate his first Pac-dot. Recently, however, due to horrific school shootings and record sales of violent video games like the Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty series, video games as a whole have been put under a microscope. The question now is: are violent video games really such a significant factor when it comes to youth violence? Current research and information indicates no. Although some research reveals that violent video games can cause temporary aggression, there is no evidence that they cause violent crimes such as assaults or homicides. Christopher Ferguson, an associate professor at Stetson University and a researcher on the effects media has on young children, wrote an article titled "Video Games: The Ultimate Scapegoat for Violence." In his article he states: My meta-analysis concluded that there was no evidence to support a causal or correlational relationship between video games and aggressive behavior. My impression is that the social sciences decided that video games cause aggression before much data was available, and then tried to fit square evidence into round theoretical holes. (qtd. in Tamiu.edu) Brad J. Bushmann and Craig A. Anderson are highly recognizable psychology professors who agree that violent video games have a significant negative impact on young people, including teenagers, who become more violent. Both have published numerous articles on the effects the media has on their audiences and have testified at numerous hearings, including those in Congress. In 2002, they collaborated and published a report titled Violent Video Games and Hostile Expectations: A test...... middle of paper ......t Video Games and Hostile Expectations: A Test of the General Aggression Model. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2002): Print.Ferguson, Christopher and Cheryl K. Olson. “Video games do not make vulnerable adolescents more violent.” Springer (August 26, 2013): Web. October 23, 2013Ferguson, Christopher “Video games: the ultimate scapegoat for violence” Tamiu (2009): Web. October 10, 2013“How much do you know about video games?” Entertainment software scorecard. 2013. Web. October 23, 2013 "The Final Report and Findings of the Safe School Initiative: Implications for Preventing School Attacks in the United States." United States. United States Department of Homeland Security. May 2002:Web. October 23, 2013 National and state statistics on youth violence at a glance. United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (June 19, 2009). Network. October 25 2013