Board/Committee Members: Keith F. Widaman, PhD, Chair; Nancy K. Dess, PhD; Suzette M. Evans, PhD; Noelle Hurd, PhD; Debra A. Major, PhD; Arthur M. Nezu, PhD; Jerry M. Suls, PhD; Janet K. Swim, PhD; Jeffrey M. Zacks, PhD
Staff Liaison(s): Suzanne Wandersman and Amber Story, PhD
A joint BSA/BAPPI task force was formed to review the scientific literature on the effects of violent video games following Council’s motion in August 2018 in response to a Council New Business Item requesting that APA archive the 2015 Resolution on Violent Video Games:
That Council supports the formation of a task force, appointed by BAPPI and BSA, to conduct a comprehensive, up-to-date systematic review of violent video game literature and to recommend whether the 2015 Resolution on Violent Video Games should be amended.
Three BSA members and three BAAPPI members volunteered to serve on the Task Force. The Task Force met virtually beginning in the spring of 2019. Every member of the Task Force was involved in reviewing the literature and drafting the report. After conducting a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the violent video game literature (from January 2014 through April 2019) and extensive discussion, the Violent Video Games Task Force concluded that recent evidence demonstrates a small reliable effect of violent video game exposure and aggressive outcomes. This finding continues to support the conclusions presented in the Technical Report on the Review of the Violent Video Game Literature by the 2015 APA Task Force on Violent Media and the 2015 Resolution on Violent Video Games. However, the 2019 task force recommended adding the following note of caution to the 2015 resolution:
“The following resolution should not be misinterpreted or misused by attributing violence, such as mass shootings, to violent video game use. Violence is a complex social problem that likely stems from many factors that warrant attention from researchers, policy makers and the public. Attributing violence to violent video gaming is not scientifically sound and draws attention away from other factors.”
The activity of the Task Force utilizes psychology to make a positive impact on critical societal issues, by facilitating the public’s understanding of APA’s current statement on violent video games research. The activity of the Task Force also elevates the public’s understanding of and use of psychology by making psychological science accessible and understandable to the public and key decision makers. In addition, the Task Force activity strengthens APA’s standing as an authoritative voice for psychology, particularly as it relates to a better understanding of the psychological research in this area.
BSA members recommended the Board of Directors convene an advisory group to focus on climate change. BSA believes that APA can play a role in bringing together the varied climate change activities that are currently ongoing in the field. The success of the advisory group would be measured by the amount of psychological evidence used in the world to address climate change. For example: Are state and local mental health agencies educating their staffs on climate change effects on mental health? Are funding agencies increasing their funding for research on socio-psychological research to better understand behavioral change related to climate change? Are psychological graduate programs being established to study climate change?
In addition, the advisory group can help guide APA in executing the activities listed in the resolution passed at the International Summit on Psychology and Global Health: A Leader in Climate Change which took place later in November 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal.
This project will advance APA’s strategic priority to utilize psychology to make a positive impact on critical societal issues (climate change).
APA held its second Technology, Mind, and Society (TMS) Conference on October 3-5, 2019 in Washington, DC. Almost 700 scientists, practitioners, policymakers, and students from around the world attended the event. The conference provided a venue for reporting and assessing current efforts to understand and shape the interactions of human beings and technology, for identifying priorities for future work, and for promoting exchange and collaboration among participants. Recognizing the opportunity to build on the success of the first TMS conference, held in 2018, APA initiated a new interdisciplinary journal, Technology, Mind, and Behavior.
The journal will showcase original basic and applied empirical research on the psychology and dynamics of the interactions between humans and technology, focusing on human behavior at the individual or group level.
The conference and journal advance APA’s strategic priorities to utilize psychology to make a positive impact on critical societal issues and elevates the public’s understanding of, regard for, and use of psychology.
BSA discussed the importance of interdisciplinary research training. BSA discussed the possibility of collaborating with the Board of Educational Affairs on developing interdisciplinary research curricula at the high school and undergraduate levels. Students in psychology should be introduced to working models of broad interdisciplinary research.
BSA members reviewed current documents already produced by the Education Directorate to see if interdisciplinary research is included and if additional information could be added.
Activities to advance interdisciplinary efforts supports the preparation of the discipline and profession of psychology for the future.
Advanced Training Institutes (ATIs)
BSA provides oversight of the ATI program, which offers training in cutting-edge methods and technologies. Five ATIs took place in 2018.
The ATIs provide training opportunities to prepare the discipline and profession of psychology for the future.