The Psychology of Pokémon: The Power to Catch 'Em All

I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are." -Mewtwo, Pokemon: The First Movie. For more than two decades, Ash Ketchum, has been chasing his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. His personal journey spans more than and 1,000 television episodes, 22films, 122 Pokémon games (as of fall of 2021), discovering over 800 different species of Pokémon, numerous card games, and other merchandise children of the 90s still treasure today. The Psychology of Pokémon guides gamers on a real-world quest of self-discovery so that they can Catch 'em All. And, as part of this examination, psychologists, clinicians, video game researchers, professors, and enthusiasts unravel the mysteries of the Pokémon series by asking: Why is the Pokémon series so beloved by everyone even after we have grown up? What is the reason we trust a 10-year-old to accomplish the mission to become a Pokémon master and how does this affect ou