Press Start to Learn: Motor Skill Learning and the ‘Negative Gamer’ Stereotype in Adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder

This study investigated how negative gamer stereotypes affect motor performance and learning in adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). Forty boys ( M age = 13.62 years, SD = 0.83) were randomly assigned to either a stereotype threat (ST) or control group. After a 5-minute warm-up, all participants completed five pre-test trials of a basketball dribbling task, followed by an acquisition phase of 40 practice trials. Before practice, the ST group received verbal instructions emphasizing negative gamer stereotypes. A manipulation check was administered afterward. One day later, participants completed a retention and a transfer test involving non-dominant-hand dribbling. Results revealed that both groups endorsed negative gamer stereotypes and improved during the practice phase. However, the ST group showed reduced learning, as evidenced by performing worse on both retention and transfer tests. These findings suggest that stereotype threat may not impair immediate performance but can produce delayed negative effects on motor learning among adolescents with IGD.