Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
Dr. Ben discusses Playing the Self: Identity, Performance, and Catharsis in TTRPGs, Full Lecture (Episode #119).
#dnd #pathfinder #ttrpg #wfrp
Website rpgphd.com
RPG PHD swag!!! rpg-phd.myspreadshop.com
Facebook facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089593636905
Instagram instagram.com/rpg_phd
Blyesky @rpg-phd.bsky.social
Patreon patreon.com/user?u=87730462&view_as=patron
---------------------------------------------
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:55 Playing the Self
02:18 Identity Exploration
06:32 Narrative Therapy
13:13 Performance & Roleplaying
26:28 Emotional Catharsis & Bleed
39:28 Final Thoughts
40:16 Thoughts?
---------------------------------------------
Music and Sounds:
epidemicsound.com/track/Erdns8jA3D
epidemicsound.com/track/MRyCi54t7M
epidemicsound.com/track/AQBpWzOsID
epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe
Music: creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0
epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ
epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe
Music: creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0
epidemicsound.com/track/bWHPOsoaql
epidemicsound.com/track/uDAHxg3lIS
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/2dLRmfzdA5
epidemicsound.com/track/jrNZjxJQqZ
epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ
epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/8c51eca6-dbb5-4925-b4ec-7ee51630322e
Works Cited
Bowman, S.L. The Functions of Role-Playing Games: How Participants Create Community, Solve Problems and Explore Identity.
Goffman, E. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. (Dramaturgical analysis of social roles.
Fine, G.A. Shared Fantasy: Role-Playing Games as Social Worlds. (Discussion of player, character, person frames in RPGs).
Huizinga, J. Homo Ludens. (Concept of the “magic circle” of play)
Nordic LARP Wiki. “Bleed.” (Definition of bleed and its types)nordiclarp.orgnordiclarp.org.
Bowman, S.L. “Bleed: The Spillover Between Player and Character.” Nordiclarp.org (2015). (Catharsis through bleed).
Merrick, A. et al. (2024). Dungeons and Dragons may improve mental health – JCU study press release (D&D as cathartic, safe emotional outlet).
UCC Express – “Gender and Dragons: Exploring Gender Identity through D&D.” (Player survey on gender exploration in D&D).
Pacifica Graduate Institute – Extension Course “Discovering Your True Selves Through Analog Role-Playing” (Course description on Jungian active imagination in RPGs)extension.pacifica.edu.
Monsterhearts RPG by Avery Alder – Game text and community commentary (themes of identity and emotional bleed in gameplay)
Dr. Ben discusses Playing the Self: Identity, Performance, and Catharsis in TTRPGs, Full Lecture (Episode #119).
#dnd #pathfinder #ttrpg #wfrp
Website rpgphd.com
RPG PHD swag!!! rpg-phd.myspreadshop.com
Facebook facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089593636905
Instagram instagram.com/rpg_phd
Blyesky @rpg-phd.bsky.social
Patreon patreon.com/user?u=87730462&view_as=patron
---------------------------------------------
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:55 Playing the Self
02:18 Identity Exploration
06:32 Narrative Therapy
13:13 Performance & Roleplaying
26:28 Emotional Catharsis & Bleed
39:28 Final Thoughts
40:16 Thoughts?
---------------------------------------------
Music and Sounds:
epidemicsound.com/track/Erdns8jA3D
epidemicsound.com/track/MRyCi54t7M
epidemicsound.com/track/AQBpWzOsID
epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe
Music: creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0
epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ
epidemicsound.com/track/yCvSWOBYUe
Music: creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0
epidemicsound.com/track/bWHPOsoaql
epidemicsound.com/track/uDAHxg3lIS
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/e3mQvva1kZ
epidemicsound.com/track/2dLRmfzdA5
epidemicsound.com/track/jrNZjxJQqZ
epidemicsound.com/track/c0X3Z8H8uZ
epidemicsound.com/sound-effects/tracks/8c51eca6-dbb5-4925-b4ec-7ee51630322e
Works Cited
Bowman, S.L. The Functions of Role-Playing Games: How Participants Create Community, Solve Problems and Explore Identity.
Goffman, E. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. (Dramaturgical analysis of social roles.
Fine, G.A. Shared Fantasy: Role-Playing Games as Social Worlds. (Discussion of player, character, person frames in RPGs).
Huizinga, J. Homo Ludens. (Concept of the “magic circle” of play)
Nordic LARP Wiki. “Bleed.” (Definition of bleed and its types)nordiclarp.orgnordiclarp.org.
Bowman, S.L. “Bleed: The Spillover Between Player and Character.” Nordiclarp.org (2015). (Catharsis through bleed).
Merrick, A. et al. (2024). Dungeons and Dragons may improve mental health – JCU study press release (D&D as cathartic, safe emotional outlet).
UCC Express – “Gender and Dragons: Exploring Gender Identity through D&D.” (Player survey on gender exploration in D&D).
Pacifica Graduate Institute – Extension Course “Discovering Your True Selves Through Analog Role-Playing” (Course description on Jungian active imagination in RPGs)extension.pacifica.edu.
Monsterhearts RPG by Avery Alder – Game text and community commentary (themes of identity and emotional bleed in gameplay)
