Pop culture and social insertion: How can play in adolescence and adulthood be “therapeutic”?
In this study we explore how participation in tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) fosters experiences of social insertion in adolescence and adulthood. We conducted semi-directed interviews with nine participants who identified themselves as having used such practices to overcome difficult and cha...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SG Publishing
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.journalcswb.ca/index.php/cswb/article/view/178 |
| _version_ | 1797429054303895552 |
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| author | Anne M. Goodall Alexis H. Truong |
| author_facet | Anne M. Goodall Alexis H. Truong |
| author_sort | Anne M. Goodall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
In this study we explore how participation in tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) fosters experiences of social insertion in adolescence and adulthood. We conducted semi-directed interviews with nine participants who identified themselves as having used such practices to overcome difficult and challenging life experiences. We look at how participants interpreted their play experiences, described by some as “therapeutic.” Through TTRPGs, players were able to explore and better understand aspects of themselves, explore new interactions, and “test” new ways of expressing themselves. Additionally, participants were able to develop their interpersonal skills by participating in such practices, namely because of the roleplaying element. Participants stated that these practices and their therapeutic qualities also had positive effects on their lives outside of the game, helping them to enter and engage in various social situations that they previously felt excluded from, or hesitant to participate in. We argue that social interventions could invest in these types of cultural practices, embedded in popular culture, to encourage and facilitate participation of adolescents and adults in mental health services.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:07:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0388026aa80f4f9db9744adb65ba578f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2371-4298 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:07:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | SG Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj.art-0388026aa80f4f9db9744adb65ba578f2023-12-02T09:47:48ZengSG PublishingJournal of Community Safety and Well-Being2371-42982021-03-016110.35502/jcswb.178Pop culture and social insertion: How can play in adolescence and adulthood be “therapeutic”?Anne M. Goodall0Alexis H. Truong1Department of Criminology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.Department of Criminology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. In this study we explore how participation in tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) fosters experiences of social insertion in adolescence and adulthood. We conducted semi-directed interviews with nine participants who identified themselves as having used such practices to overcome difficult and challenging life experiences. We look at how participants interpreted their play experiences, described by some as “therapeutic.” Through TTRPGs, players were able to explore and better understand aspects of themselves, explore new interactions, and “test” new ways of expressing themselves. Additionally, participants were able to develop their interpersonal skills by participating in such practices, namely because of the roleplaying element. Participants stated that these practices and their therapeutic qualities also had positive effects on their lives outside of the game, helping them to enter and engage in various social situations that they previously felt excluded from, or hesitant to participate in. We argue that social interventions could invest in these types of cultural practices, embedded in popular culture, to encourage and facilitate participation of adolescents and adults in mental health services. https://www.journalcswb.ca/index.php/cswb/article/view/178Mental healthrole-playingwell-beingsocial insertionmarginalisation |
| spellingShingle | Anne M. Goodall Alexis H. Truong Pop culture and social insertion: How can play in adolescence and adulthood be “therapeutic”? Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being Mental health role-playing well-being social insertion marginalisation |
| title | Pop culture and social insertion: How can play in adolescence and adulthood be “therapeutic”? |
| title_full | Pop culture and social insertion: How can play in adolescence and adulthood be “therapeutic”? |
| title_fullStr | Pop culture and social insertion: How can play in adolescence and adulthood be “therapeutic”? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pop culture and social insertion: How can play in adolescence and adulthood be “therapeutic”? |
| title_short | Pop culture and social insertion: How can play in adolescence and adulthood be “therapeutic”? |
| title_sort | pop culture and social insertion how can play in adolescence and adulthood be therapeutic |
| topic | Mental health role-playing well-being social insertion marginalisation |
| url | https://www.journalcswb.ca/index.php/cswb/article/view/178 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annemgoodall popcultureandsocialinsertionhowcanplayinadolescenceandadulthoodbetherapeutic AT alexishtruong popcultureandsocialinsertionhowcanplayinadolescenceandadulthoodbetherapeutic |