What Have We Learned Watching So Much TV? Part 2: The Scully Effect
Now That I’ve Seen a Lawyer on TV, Maybe I Should Be One!
The Scully Effect refers to how Dana Scully from The X-Files may have inspired women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Portrayed by Gillian Anderson, Scully was a medical doctor and FBI agent who stood for intelligence, skepticism, and scientific rigor.
UFOs? Seriously?
I have this silly issue with high reactance when it comes to TV shows. If everybody around me says, “Oh, but you must watch this show”—especially if it becomes a cultural phenomenon—I resist watching it. It took me forever to get into Game of Thrones or The Handmaid’s Tale. Of course, when I finally watch even one episode out of curiosity, I invariably become hooked.
The X-Files was even more complicated. A show about UFOs? Get outta here! I believed in UFOs when I was 12. I read everything I could find in the local library, discovering along the way that Belgium had an organization dedicated to studying UFOs. Even better, especially for a young teen in the pre-internet days, it was based in my own village! So I wrote a glowing letter asking for more information. They sent me back a friendly, welcoming message—with one caveat: they didn't believe in UFOs. Disappointing, but better than nothing. I joined, paid a minimal fee, and started receiving a stenciled newsletter. Unknowingly, that was my first step toward becoming a lifelong (though often struggling) skeptic.
The Success of The X-Files
Debuting in 1993, The X-Files ran for about a decade, producing over 200 episodes. The show resonated deeply. Even today, posters stating "I want to believe" or featuring the show's main characters can still be found on dorm-room walls.
Many viewers had grown up amid stories about JFK's assassination, Elvis’s supposed survival, and Watergate. Media reports didn't talk about leaks or whistleblowers but about secret meetings with unidentified government officials. And the Cold War was either ongoing or fresh enough in recent memory, characterized by governments on both sides hiding their actions. The X-Files tapped into all these themes—and more.
From a media standpoint, the show's biggest innovation was stereotype reversal. The male lead was emotional, driven by hunches and gut instincts. The female protagonist, Dana Scully, was portrayed as a cool-headed scientist and skeptic committed to logical explanations—a living, breathing Occam’s Razor. From a storytelling perspective, it was a perfect combination.
Impact on Women's Career Choices
A study by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, in collaboration with 21st Century Fox and J. Walter Thompson Intelligence, surveyed over 2,000 women. Their findings support the hypothesis of a "Scully Effect":
63% of women familiar with Scully said she increased their confidence in pursuing STEM careers.
50% of regular X-Files viewers were more likely to work in STEM fields.
43% of respondents working in STEM acknowledged Scully as a role model.
Social science can be messy and surveys are influenced by many potential sources of bias: people are sometimes influenced by what they guess the researchers want to hear, however carefully selected, samples may not fully represent the population they claim to be studying, and much of their information is based on something utterly untrustworthy: our own recollection. Even so, the study offers important data points for consideration.
How the Scully Effect Differs from the CSI Effect
The CSI Effect refers to how frequent viewers of forensic TV dramas might develop distorted expectations about forensic evidence. This may impact jurors in court or how news consumers interpret crime stories.
The Scully Effect, however, operates differently. It suggests that a fictional character with charisma can reshape viewers’ perceptions about a job, influencing personal interests and motivations. Cognitively, this relates to Kahneman and Tversky’s concept of the Simulation Heuristic. If girls grow up in a world where doctors and detectives are predominantly male—even if never explicitly stated—it becomes difficult to envision themselves in these roles. One strong example that breaks this mold can change that. Simply stated: the end to the sentence, “Can you imagine a woman being a…” shifts. This is why underrepresented groups intuitively understand the significance of media characters, even fictional ones, who defy stereotypes.
Anecdotal Evidence and Cultural Impact
Beyond statistics, numerous women have shared stories crediting their career choices to Scully's influence. Online platforms like Reddit feature accounts from women inspired by Scully to pursue science. Although these stories are anecdotal, as a researcher, I've observed time and time again that few people openly admit being influenced by entertainment. In fact, if you ask them, either in a survey or an open ended, qualitative, question, most people get defensive. We have been taught that we should not allow ourselves to be influenced by something as trivial as a movie or a TV show. The openness on Reddit and elsewhere, while not definitive proof, carries significant weight.
What the Scully Effect Teaches Us
Whereas the CSI Effect warns us about distorted expectations, the Scully Effect highlights the media’s power to model possibilities. It shows that visibility isn’t merely symbolic—it’s structural, shaping what seems achievable.
Next time, we'll explore the opposite of fiction: how reality-based shows may inspire viewers toward new careers.
Are there any fictional characters that you found inspiring? Let us know in the comments!
This newsletter is one of a three part series, which also includes:
When I was a boy six decades ago I loved the show Seahunt, starring Lloyd Bridges and his sons. They were avid Scuba divers. Few remember Lloyd now, but most will know of his sons: Beau Bridges and Jeff Bridges, especially Jeff, who is a Hollywood A list star. Now as an old man I still Scuba dive the oceans with my wife and daughter--she is now a Divemaster and working professionally in one of the world's great sports.