Claire Kalia Jared Zoe

Myth # 1

Video games have multiple real world benefits including improvement to attention, visual processes, and executive funtioning.

Myth # 2

Screen time can be used as a beneficial resource specifically for children who struggle with hyperactivity or ADHD.

Myth #3

We cannot repress memories, instead we should pursue proper forms of therapy to address issues we might be having.

Myth #1: The Positives of Video Games

Myth #1 states that there are no positive benefits to playing video games, when in reality playing video games can bring multiple real world benefits to people.

What the People Think

We polled sixty nine people on an instagram poll and thirteen people said they believed there were no positive benefits to video games while fifty six believed that there was.

The Facts

In reality, video games have multiple real world benefits and the idea that they don't could lead to negative effects in terms of social contact with others that could be developed through video games and shame over video game usage.

Myth #2: Why Screen Time Can Be Beneficial for Children

Myth #2 states that screen time in early childhood causes ADHD but the truth is that screen time can be used as a beneficial resource for children and does not cause ADHD.

What the People Think

We polled sixty eight people on an instagram poll and thirty two people said they believed the myth while thirty six believed that the myth was false.

The Facts

Screen time does not cause ADHD in children, there is a lack of scientific evidence to back up this myth. Productive screen time is beneficial and the myth that it causes ADHD only perpetuated stigma and shame to people.

Myth # 3: The Belief That We Can Repress Memories Will Only Lead to Negative Outcomes

Myth #3 states that extreme trauma is repressed to protect our psyches from stress-overload and by believing this myth people are putting themselves at risk of multiple things including harm to progress in therapy.

What the People Think

We polled sixty people total, fifty said that this myth was true while only ten people knew that the myth was false.

The Facts

The myth of repressed memories and belief in them can cause a multitude of issues in a real world context, it can lead to lack of progress in patients as well as worsening symptoms and puts people at risk for false memories.

Meet the Team

Meet the people who worked to unpack these myths and discover the truth within cognitive conversations.

Kalia

Hey, my name is Kalia Takamori-Tihada and I am currently a freshman from Maui, Hawai'i. I love spending my free time in nature whether thats at the beach, in the valley, or on a hike, with my friends by my side.

My biggest takeway from this semester is that interacting with misleading information can be toxic for our brains, since it is wired to rely on mental shortcuts. We must change that mentality, and instead, train our brains to not be so quick to believe everything we come across. We are the problem, but we can also be a part of the solution.

Claire

Hi, I'm Claire Stipsits. I'm a junior from Toronto, Canada majoring in psych with a minor in business, and I also play on the varsity volleyball team.

My biggest takeaway from this semester is the importance of media literacy and being conscious of the source and quality of the information we are consuming.

Zoe

Hey! My name is Zoe Anderson and I am a first year student from Dupont, Washington. I am majoring in Psychology and plan to graduate in 2024. I love to hike, thrift, read, and go camping and backpacking:)

Biggest takeaway from the semester: "My biggest takeaway is that theres a lot more to information than meets the eye and we should always be cautious about false information. Myths are easily spread and often have severe consequences, I didnt realize just how impactful false information could be for peoples health and wellbeing until we unpacked these myths. The myth that sent this message the most for me involved repressed memories because the outcome of believeing this myth can be so severe and harmful to patients and the people in their lives.

Jared

Hi! My name is Jared Cattell. I am a senior from Bremerton Washington. I am majoring in kinesiology and minoring in psychology. My favorite pastimes are basketball, reading, and hanging with my friends.

My biggest takeaway from this semester is that even if a lot of people on the internet believe something to be true, does not mean it is true. It is important to do some research into the scientific articles about the topic, so we can determine what is actually true and consistently backed up. Just taking beliefs and information from social media at face value can be misleading and sometimes even dangerous, so it is our responsibility to use our background and knowledge in psychology to set the record straight.

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