Dr. Jamie Madigan is a life-long D&D player and psychology Ph.D. who has become a freelance writer, consultant, and recognized expert on the intersection of psychology and games. He focuses that expertise on the world of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons.
The Psychologist
Dr. Madigan earned his Ph.D. in psychology with a specialization in Industrial-Organizational psychology, which emphasizes translating academic research into plain language for non-experts and making complex concepts easily understood. His fluency in the language of science also makes him proficient at separating quality research from pop science, fads, and agenda-driven pseudoscience.
The Psychology of Games Expert
Dr. Madigan has been sought out by various media outlets and is frequently quoted as an expert on the psychology of games. He appeared on the television show Good Morning America in 2020 in addition to other outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Time Magazine, Wired Magazine, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Playboy, BBC Radio 1, Scientific American, Nature Magazine, The Times of London, International Business Times, Oprah.com, Today.com, Buzzfeed, Edge Magazine, Gamasutra.com, Eurogamer.com, Vox.com, Gamesindustry.biz, Kotaku.com, GameSpot.com, and more.
In 2015 Rowman & Littlefield published Dr. Madigan’s first book, GETTING GAMERS: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF VIDEO GAMES AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE WHO PLAY THEM. This book looked at how video games use psychology to shape our behavior, manipulate our beliefs, and rig our purchasing decisions. Each chapter examined scientific research from psychology and other behavioral sciences to address topics such as toxic online behavior, rampant fandom, the roots of video game nostalgia, insidious in-app purchases, the surprising effects of using video game avatars, the efficacy of brain training games, and the effects of video game violence. The book sold well enough to warrant an audiobook version and a second edition in paperback, plus translations for Korean and Chinese markets. This resulted in many invitations for Dr. Madigan to appear at book festivals, book signings, symposia, and lectures. The book has also been adopted as a required text in multiple college game design classes.
In 2020 Ignite Reads published Dr. Madigan’s second book, THE ENGAGEMENT GAME: WHY YOUR WORKPLACE CULTURE SHOULD LOOK MORE LIKE A VIDEO GAME. This title explored what the psychology behind good game design could offer to new managers wishing to increase employee engagement, motivation, and team cohesion. He also wrote a chapter in the book VIDEO GAMES AND WELL-BEING: PRESS START (Palgrave McMillan, 2019).