Pete Etchells: Are video games good for us?

Psychologist Pete Etchells explores the benefits and dangers of playing computer games.

Published: April 10, 2019 at 11:00 pm

In this week's Science Focus Podcast, we dive into the world of video games. Over the past couple of decades, video games have often got a bad rap, blamed for everything from aggression and violence to addiction and mental health problems.

But what does the research actually say? Dr Pete Etchells is a psychologist at Bath Spa University who researches the behavioural effects of video games. In his first book, Lost in a Good Game (£14.99, Icon Books), he gets to the bottom of our relationship with games, and reveals a more positive side to our game-playing habits.

He speaks to BBC Science Focus staff writer James Lloyd.

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