ESA: No Evidence of Link Between Media Violence and Real Thing

Group says studies have already shown that connection is not there

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/20/2012 11:05:52 AM

The video game lobby says extensive research has shown there is no connection between violent entertainment and violence in real life.

In response to the introduction by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) of a bill that would require a National Academies of Science study on the impact of violent video games and video programming on children, the Entertainment Software Association offered its prayers for the victims of the Sandy Hook school shootings, but also its defense of its industry.

"The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), and the entire industry it represents, mourns the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Our heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to the families who lost loved ones, and to the entire community of Newtown."

As to a new study, it suggested it needed to look far and wide, but would not likely find any fault with the gaming industry.

"The search for meaningful solutions must consider the broad range of actual factors that may have contributed to this tragedy. Any such study needs to include the years of extensive research that has shown no connection between entertainment and real-life violence."

An ESA spokesman referred B&C/Multichannel News to an online fact sheet citing those studies and concluding: "There is no scientific research that validates a link between computer and video games and violence, despite lots of overheated rhetoric from the industry's detractors. Instead, a host of respected researchers has concluded that there is no link between media violence and violent crime."