The Truth Behind Video Games & Their Psychological Impact - Michael Kasumovic

Michael Kasumovic is a professor of evolutionary biology at University of New South Wales, a researcher and an author. The influence of violent video games on human psychology has been contested for years. Does virtual violence translate to real world harm? Should we be worried about our friends and kids who play them? And just what makes these games so compelling? Expect to learn the evolutionary theory of why winners tend to win more and losers tend to lose more, whether video games skills translate to the real world, why status-seeking people are more interested in playing violent video games, whether men can grow beards for protection from punches, why men with high testosterone have superior immune systems, why women who play violent video games have higher self-esteem and much more... Sponsors: Get 10% discount on all Gymshark’s products at https://bit.ly/sharkwisdom (use code: MW10) Get 10% discount on Marek Health’s comprehensive blood panels at https://marekhealth.com/modernwisdom (use code: MODERNWISDOM) Get 5 Free Travel Packs, Free Liquid Vitamin D and more from Athletic Greens at https://drinkag1.com/modernwisdom (discount automatically applied) Extra Stuff: Check out Michael's website - https://www.michaelkasumovic.com/ Follow Michael on Twitter https://twitter.com/mkasumovic Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom #psychology #gaming #violence 00:00 Intro 00:16 Why We Play Video Games 11:52 Video Games Are Hijacking Human Desires 15:45 Are Men Being Sedated? 24:04 Common Traits of Gamers 27:45 Socio-sexual Behaviour of Male Gamers 35:35 How Status Impacted Player Behaviour in Halo 40:28 What Happens When Women get Involved in Male Status Games? 52:04 Do Violent Video Games Improve Fighting Ability? 58:40 Why Does Status Respond to the Local Environment? 1:00:30 Do Bearded Men Win More Fights? 1:06:44 Different Types of Sexual Competition 1:15:20 What Basketball Can Teach Us About Male Performance 1:22:44 The Impact of a Masculine Face on Health 1:32:26 Where to Find Michael - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

Michael KasumovicguestChris Williamsonhost

Jun 19, 20231h 35mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: June 19, 2023
Duration: 1h 35m
Channel: Modern Wisdom
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Michael Kasumovic is a professor of evolutionary biology at University of New South Wales, a researcher and an author. The influence of violent video games on human psychology has been contested for years. Does virtual violence translate to real world harm? Should we be worried about our friends and kids who play them? And just what makes these games so compelling? Expect to learn the evolutionary theory of why winners tend to win more and losers tend to lose more, whether video games skills translate to the real world, why status-seeking people are more interested in playing violent video games, whether men can grow beards for protection from punches, why men with high testosterone have superior immune systems, why women who play violent video games have higher self-esteem and much more... Sponsors: Get 10% discount on all Gymshark’s products at https://bit.ly/sharkwisdom (use code: MW10) Get 10% discount on Marek Health’s comprehensive blood panels at https://marekhealth.com/modernwisdom (use code: MODERNWISDOM) Get 5 Free Travel Packs, Free Liquid Vitamin D and more from Athletic Greens at https://drinkag1.com/modernwisdom (discount automatically applied) Extra Stuff: Check out Michael's website - https://www.michaelkasumovic.com/ Follow Michael on Twitter https://twitter.com/mkasumovic Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom #psychology #gaming #violence 00:00 Intro 00:16 Why We Play Video Games 11:52 Video Games Are Hijacking Human Desires 15:45 Are Men Being Sedated? 24:04 Common Traits of Gamers 27:45 Socio-sexual Behaviour of Male Gamers 35:35 How Status Impacted Player Behaviour in Halo 40:28 What Happens When Women get Involved in Male Status Games? 52:04 Do Violent Video Games Improve Fighting Ability? 58:40 Why Does Status Respond to the Local Environment? 1:00:30 Do Bearded Men Win More Fights? 1:06:44 Different Types of Sexual Competition 1:15:20 What Basketball Can Teach Us About Male Performance 1:22:44 The Impact of a Masculine Face on Health 1:32:26 Where to Find Michael - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

SPEAKERS

Michael Kasumovic
guest
Chris Williamson
host
Narrator
other

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Modern Wisdom, featuring Michael Kasumovic and Chris Williamson, The Truth Behind Video Games & Their Psychological Impact - Michael Kasumovic explores how Violent Video Games Shape Status, Mating, and Modern Masculinity Michael Kasumovic explains violent video games as status-testing arenas that tap into deep evolutionary drives for hierarchy and mate competition. He outlines research showing that people more motivated by mating and status are disproportionately drawn to violent games, and that performance in these games can shift self-perceived mate value and confidence. The conversation broadens to male–female competition, online misogyny, inequality, and how virtual hierarchies now blur with real-world status dynamics. Throughout, Kasumovic argues that video games are powerful (and underused) tools for studying human behavior, while warning against overly simple “screens are sedating men” narratives.

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