Freedom to Learn

Media

A Brief History of Moral Panics About Kids and Media

Peter Gray Ph.D. on January 16, 2025

Whenever a revolutionarily new means of communication comes along, the young glom onto it and many of their elders believe it is leading to the wreck and ruin of the young.

Whenever a revolutionarily new means of communication comes along, the young glom onto it and many of their elders believe it is leading to the wreck and ruin of the young.

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.

Adolescence

Dramatic Changes in Teen Suicide Rates Over Seven Decades

Peter Gray Ph.D. on September 3, 2023

Why did the teen suicide rate, especially for boys, rise dramatically from 1950 to 1990, then fall dramatically, and then rise again after 2010?

Why did the teen suicide rate, especially for boys, rise dramatically from 1950 to 1990, then fall dramatically, and then rise again after 2010?

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.

Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT Finds Advice to Parents from Past Decades

Peter Gray Ph.D. on April 23, 2023

The AI program ChatGPT found good examples of experts' advice to parents about the value of children's independent activities, in decades prior to 1980.

The AI program ChatGPT found good examples of experts' advice to parents about the value of children's independent activities, in decades prior to 1980.

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.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Abusing Men’s Bodies (and Minds) for Our Viewing Pleasure

Peter Gray Ph.D. on February 18, 2023

The sports industry has known for least 90 years that American football damages brains in ways that can result, over time, in depression, irrational violence, and dementia.

The sports industry has known for least 90 years that American football damages brains in ways that can result, over time, in depression, irrational violence, and dementia.