yeah they can but it all depends on the person really. having said that, the person is just as likely to be affected by video games as he is from watching the tv, reading the newspaper, listening to the radio, listening to music and even socialising.
The thing is that this is a small %age of people who are affected by such things. but the government need their scapegoat, the media need they're newest social pariah and its video games time to shine.
but so far the government and the media groups are batting, they've swung the scapegoat bat but have missed every hit. the only people who ever cheer on the batters are the people too paranoid not to.
But thats life for ya.