Podcast 82 - Therapy With Dungeons & Dragons

Podcast 82 - Therapy With Dungeons & Dragons

Author: Jamie Madigan March 1, 2023 Duration: 1:05:03
Psychology of Video Games Podcast
LeisureGamesVideo Games
There's a growing trend among therapists who bring people together --often children, but sometimes adults-- to play Dungeons & Dragons and other role-playing games in a therapeutic context. Run by game masters who are qualified mental health professionals, these sessions help people dealing with ADHD, autism, learning disorders, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and many other diagnoses. Using their expertise both in the game and in providing therapy, these dungeon masters set goals, guide players into encounters that help them reach those goals, and then pause so that the group can reflect, ponder the application of what they've experienced to life outside the game, and grow.

How does it work? How WELL does it work? What makes tabletop role-playing games such a good vehicle for therapy in this way? Those are all questions I will ask of this episode's guest expert.



Audio Credits:

Ever wonder why a particular game mechanic feels so satisfying or why you keep returning to a certain virtual world? Psychology of Video Games Podcast digs into those exact questions, moving beyond simple reviews to explore the mental machinery behind our play. Hosted by psychologist Jamie Madigan, each episode applies research and theory to understand our experiences with games. You’ll hear discussions on how developers use principles of motivation and learning to craft compelling systems, and what our behavior-from cooperation to rage-quitting-reveals about our minds. This isn’t about finding the next game to play; it’s about understanding the ones you already love on a deeper level. The podcast unpacks the subtle psychological hooks in design, the social dynamics of online worlds, and the cognitive reasons behind our emotional responses. Whether you’re a dedicated gamer or simply curious about human behavior, these conversations offer a unique lens on a popular pastime. Tune in for a thoughtful analysis that connects the dots between academic psychology and the everyday realities of playing video games.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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Psychology of Video Games Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Podcast 69: Game Transfer Phenomenon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:01
Ever seen or heard something from a video game while you weren't playing? Ever had an urge to climb a building or select from a dialogue wheel hours after you pushed away from the keyboard or controller? In this episode,…
Podcast 68: Convention Fandom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:29
My guest expert and I talk about the psychology behind geek fandom conventions, how people behave at cons, and how Covid has changed them.
Podcast 67: Esports Performance Consulting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:14
How can psychologists help esports athletes improve, stay healthy, and thrive? I talk to a guest expert with a background in sports psychology and other areas who is doing just that.
Episode 66 - Procedural Rhetoric [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:39
When games have a message that they try to convey through systems and gameplay, do players listen? Do they hear what the designers expect? Does anything tend to change as a result?Audio Credits:“Robot Motivation” by The…
Episode 65 - Psych of Final Fantasy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:42
I talk with authors of the new book Surpassing The Limit Break: The Psychology of Final Fantasy. About, well, THAT. Topics like the psychology behind Final Fantasy's storytelling, its use of gender subtypes, how its musi…
Episode 64 - How Can Video Games Make Us Happy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:06
Video games sometimes have an image problem. Honestly some days it feels like one black eye after another. But, let's not lose sight of the good stuff. There's plenty of evidence to suggest that video games help people a…
Episode 63 - Loss Aversion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:53
Loss aversion refers to the fact that we feel more pain from a loss than we do pleasure from an equivalent gain. Losses are worse than gains are good. Most of the time game designers want to avoid triggering this feeling…
Episode 62 - The Psychology of Trolling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:41
Why do people troll other players in video games? Do they get something out of it or are they just "broken"? A lot of us like to think the latter, but some researchers are starting to investigate exactly why people troll…
Episode 61: Twitch Donations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:08
What kind of relationships exist between Twitch streamers and their audience members? How is it different from other kinds of online relationships? And why do people offer monetary support to streamers? Why do some strea…
Episode 60: Take This (dot org) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:08
I mean, wouldn't it be nice if there were organizations out there that were dedicated to helping people in the gaming communities cope, be healthy, and get the help they need? Wouldn't it be great if there were someone o…

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