Checkpoints

The science of video gaming.

Christopher J. Ferguson Ph.D.

A Review of "Irreversible Damage" by Abigail Shrier

A new book considers whether an increase in youth identifying as trans may be due to social contagion. But are its claims rooted in good science?

The Bad Retraction

A new article on mentorship in the sciences was recently retracted by the journal Nature Communications. But was this warranted or are we entering an age of science censorship?

Burn This Book?

When should a controversial book be pulled from the shelves, and who gets to decide?

Anti-Media Advocacy Groups and Ideological Biases

Some anti-media pressure groups warn parents about the dangers of screens. But perhaps we should warn parents they're getting bad advice from these groups.

Gaming and the Alt-Right

Are gaming communities hooking kids into far-right movements? Or is this just a return to the "corrupt your kid" panics of yesteryear?

"13 Reasons Why" and Teen Suicide

Did the popular Netflix show "13 Reasons Why" spark an increase in youth suicides? The answer may say more about societal morality than it does about television.

Media Myths, More Common Beliefs

Part II: Everybody knows fiction can have a profound effect on real life.

Examining Media Myths

Everybody knows fiction can have a profound effect on real life. Too bad nobody told the data to agree.

What's the Probability that the Next President Will Have Dementia?

The presumed nominees for the two major parties are the oldest in US history. What's the likelihood that our next president will have at least mild cognitive impairment?

No, Orcs Aren't Racist

Is it possible to be racist toward a race that doesn't exist?

Did the Bobo Doll Studies Teach Us About Aggression?

For decades, Bandura's "Bobo Doll" studies have been a cornerstone of our understanding of aggression. But what if that understanding is all wrong?

Why Cognitive Biases Make It Hard to Get History Straight

Some historians have criticized the New York Times 1619 Project, a narrative on slavery in the U.S., as factually challenged. Why is it so hard to get the facts of history straight?

Little Women’s Man Problem

Supporters of the film claim men aren't seeing it. But maybe that's OK.

The Enduring Legacy of Mr. Rogers

In terms of production values, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood is kind of terrible. Yet most of us can't help finding the man himself to be a hero for our dark times.

Can Ghosts Exist?

Just in time for Halloween: could ghosts be real?

How Forbidden Love Benefited Opera

Did a hopeless love interest vault a composer to superstardom—yet doom a king to madness?

Peter the Not-So-Great Father

On Father's Day, let's celebrate good dads, by considering the case of one of the worst dads ever.

Six Acts of Skullduggery in the Technology Debate

Want to make people frightened of technology but don't have good evidence? Here's how to get around that small problem.

Did Louis XVI Lose His Head Over a Hunting Addiction?

Did Louis XVI's "addiction to hunting" lead to the French Revolution? Or does his example suggest we need to rethink our modern conceptualization of addiction altogether?

Reevaluating Internet Gaming Disorder

The American Psychiatric Association and World Health Organization have moved forward with diagnoses pathologizing heavy video game play. But is it the right thing to do?

False Links Between Screen Time and Cognitive Development

A new study claimed that screen time is associated with cognitive delays in young children. But does the evidence really support such claims?

No, Hitler Did Not Have Unusually High Self-Esteem

One textbook suggests we learn from Hitler's high self-esteem that self-esteem is no bridge to ethical behavior. But is Hitler's self-esteem just another fable we tell students?

The Overhyped Data on Video Games and Aggression

Did a new Dartmouth study show that violent video games increase youth aggression? Nope. It's the culture of psychological science that is the problem, not video games.

The Relationship Between Video Games and Sexism?

There is little evidence, but findings get hyped anyway.

Video Games and Helping Behavior

Everybody knows violent video games reduce helping behavior. Or do they? A new study from Australia suggests the answer may not be so simple.

Is It the Competition or Violence in Action Games?

We worry so much about violence in our video games. But perhaps we are influenced less by what's in the media than by how we use it. This article examines whether it is truly violence in video games that stokes aggression...or whether it is competitive play and whether action games are much different from competition in sports, debate and elsewhere.

Did Video Games Help Sink Gun Control?

This month, expanded background checks for gun control suffered a surprising defeat in the Senate. Perhaps video games are to blame?

Culture War Games

Politicians, activists and scholars and hotly debating video game violence effects once again. And that's too bad. All of this attention is doing little more than severely damage the credibility of the field.