Homo Virtualensis: Evolutionary Psychology as a Tool for Studying Video Games

Abstract

Video games represent a growing new trend in entertainment. The majority of research conducted regarding video games suffers from problems endemic to the standard social sciences model (SSSM). Chiefly, these problems are the result of presuming that all observed variation in mental traits is due to social learning and not innate differences. This chapter examines this body of work critically and provides evolutionary explanations for three largely unexamined or incompletely explained phenomena in the research area: game content; sex differences in gaming; and the link between gaming and play behavior. It is concluded that the literature on gaming can benefit from an infusion of evolutionary-based theorizing.