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Freedom to Learn

The roles of play and curiosity as foundations for learning.

Play
Play, Not Necessity, Is the Mother of Invention

Peter Gray Ph.D. on March 13, 2024

Play is the mother of invention; necessity is the mother of engineering. Play opens the mind to original ideas and creations; necessity refines some of them for practical ends.

Play is the mother of invention; necessity is the mother of engineering. Play opens the mind to original ideas and creations; necessity refines some of them for practical ends.

Career
Scientific Revolutions and the Spirit of Amateurism

Peter Gray Ph.D. on January 28, 2024

The passion and boundary-crossing of amateurs can lead to scientific revolutions, as illustrated here by works of Darwin, Edison, Einstein, and Goodall.

The passion and boundary-crossing of amateurs can lead to scientific revolutions, as illustrated here by works of Darwin, Edison, Einstein, and Goodall.

Career
In Praise of Amateurism

Peter Gray Ph.D. on January 19, 2024

For the professional, the activity is a way to earn a living; for the amateur, it is a way to live. Your amateur activity may well be more "you" than is your profession. Here's why.

For the professional, the activity is a way to earn a living; for the amateur, it is a way to live. Your amateur activity may well be more "you" than is your profession. Here's why.

Career
Why Do We Work So Much?

Peter Gray Ph.D. on January 7, 2024

Automation should have reduced our work hours. Why hasn't it? Here are societal and psychological reasons for why it hasn't and prospects for a "post-work society."

Automation should have reduced our work hours. Why hasn't it? Here are societal and psychological reasons for why it hasn't and prospects for a "post-work society."

Adolescence
Multiple Causes of Increase in U.S. Teen Suicides Since 2008

Peter Gray Ph.D. on November 28, 2023

While suicide rates for U.S. teens were rising sharply, rates for EU teens were unchanged or even declined a bit. What happened in the U.S. but not in Europe to cause this?

While suicide rates for U.S. teens were rising sharply, rates for EU teens were unchanged or even declined a bit. What happened in the U.S. but not in Europe to cause this?

Social Media
Benefits and Challenges of Social Media Use for Teens

Peter Gray Ph.D. on November 19, 2023

Why do teens spend so much time on social media? What do they get out of it? What do they see as the positive and negative effects it has on their mental health?

Why do teens spend so much time on social media? What do they get out of it? What do they see as the positive and negative effects it has on their mental health?

Media
Has Social Media Harmed Teens' Mental Health?

Peter Gray Ph.D. on November 2, 2023

Multiple lines of research fail to provide convincing evidence that time on screens or social media accounts for the recent rise of depression and suicide in kids.

Multiple lines of research fail to provide convincing evidence that time on screens or social media accounts for the recent rise of depression and suicide in kids.

Suicide
Why Did Teens' Suicides Increase Sharply from 2008 to 2019?

Peter Gray Ph.D. on October 22, 2023

Kids' own reports, and the timing of mental breakdowns and suicides over the school calendar, make it clear that school has become a major source of students' psychological distress.

Kids' own reports, and the timing of mental breakdowns and suicides over the school calendar, make it clear that school has become a major source of students' psychological distress.

Child Development
Causes of Kids' Gradual Loss of Freedom from 1950 to 1990

Peter Gray Ph.D. on October 10, 2023

TV, adult-directed sports, gradual exclusion from public spaces, and declining opportunities for meaningful employment contributed to decline in freedom and in kids' mental health.

TV, adult-directed sports, gradual exclusion from public spaces, and declining opportunities for meaningful employment contributed to decline in freedom and in kids' mental health.

Adolescence
Why Did Teen Suicides Decline Sharply from 1990 to 2005?

Peter Gray Ph.D. on October 1, 2023

The suicide rate for U.S. teens increased from 1950 to 1990 and then decreased. Here is my theory as to why teens' mental health improved for a few years beginning about 1990.

The suicide rate for U.S. teens increased from 1950 to 1990 and then decreased. Here is my theory as to why teens' mental health improved for a few years beginning about 1990.

Suicide
Why Did Teen Suicides Increase Sharply from 1950 to 1990?

Peter Gray Ph.D. on September 18, 2023

I discuss evidence related to theories about the huge increase, over four decades, in teen suicides and conclude that a decline in kids' freedom to be kids was the major cause.

I discuss evidence related to theories about the huge increase, over four decades, in teen suicides and conclude that a decline in kids' freedom to be kids was the major cause.

Suicide
“Back to School Blues” May Be Worse Than Just Blues

Peter Gray Ph.D. on August 17, 2023

Much evidence shows a temporal link between the school calendar and teen suicides. Suicides plummet during school vacations, and they even plummeted when schools closed for COVID.

Much evidence shows a temporal link between the school calendar and teen suicides. Suicides plummet during school vacations, and they even plummeted when schools closed for COVID.

Cross-Cultural Psychology
Must Moms Be Everything to Their Kids?

Peter Gray Ph.D. on June 29, 2023

Research in a rural village in Madagascar reveals the extraordinary competence of little children in supporting one another's mental development, given the opportunity.

Research in a rural village in Madagascar reveals the extraordinary competence of little children in supporting one another's mental development, given the opportunity.

Education
Nothing Worth Learning Can Be Taught

Peter Gray Ph.D. on June 11, 2023

The frequent equation of teaching with learning misses the point.. Teaching sometimes provides clues for real learning but never produces it.

The frequent equation of teaching with learning misses the point.. Teaching sometimes provides clues for real learning but never produces it.

Wisdom
Parental Wisdom from Decades Past

Peter Gray Ph.D. on May 6, 2023

Tragically, as a society, we have lost sight of decades-old wisdom about childrearing. Here are examples of that wisdom, having to do with kids' needs for independence.

Tragically, as a society, we have lost sight of decades-old wisdom about childrearing. Here are examples of that wisdom, having to do with kids' needs for independence.

Suicide
What Has Caused the Long Decline in Kids’ Mental Health?

Peter Gray Ph.D. on March 25, 2023

A new research article summarizes multiple lines of evidence indicating that the lack of unsupervised activity is a major cause of the epidemic of youth mental illness.

A new research article summarizes multiple lines of evidence indicating that the lack of unsupervised activity is a major cause of the epidemic of youth mental illness.

Education
The Rise and Fall of Freedom in Education in the 1960s and ‘70s

Peter Gray Ph.D. on January 22, 2023

Freedom and democracy in education had strong support in the 1960s and early '70s, but then support was removed. Yet, ALPHA, a public democratic elementary school, has survived.

Freedom and democracy in education had strong support in the 1960s and early '70s, but then support was removed. Yet, ALPHA, a public democratic elementary school, has survived.