Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Dr. Ben discusses Hofstede’s Uncertainty Avoidance in TTRPGS. Full Lecture (Episode #115).
#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
00:48 Uncertainty Avoidance
03:16 UAI in Gameplay
04:04 Rules and Mechanics: Structure vs. Flexibility
08:13 Decision-Making and Risk-Taking: Caution vs. Creativity
11:23 Narrative and Storytelling: Guided vs. Emergent Stories
16:30 Player Behavior and GM Facilitation Styles
21:00 Case Examples of UAI
29:48 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
Hofstede, G. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Hofstede, G. (n.d.). “Uncertainty Avoidance.” ClearlyCultural.com – Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions. Retrieved from clearlycultural.com.
Inafune, K. (2007). Interview in 1UP.com, as cited in RPGWatch Forums – Differences between Western and Japanese game design philosophies.
OpenStax – Principles of Management. Section 6.2: Hofstede’s Cultural Framework. (2018). Definitions of uncertainty avoidance
Landis, C. M. (2018). Uncertainty Avoidance and the Japanese. Penn State University Global Context Blog. (Japan’s UAI score and cultural traits)
sites.psu.edu
Scoping Review of TTRPG as Psychological Intervention (2023). Frontiers in Psychology / PMC11299717. (Cultural distinctions influence reactions in TTRPGs)
Wikipedia. “Uncertainty avoidance.” (Last modified 2025). Definition and characteristics of high vs low UAI
Wikipedia. “Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory.” (Last modified 2025). E
The Retired Adventurer (2021). “Six Cultures of Play.” (Discussion of RPG play cultures and tournament module fairness)
retiredadventurer.blogspot.com
Gnome Stew – 10 Things I Learned about Japanese TRPGs (2018). (Notes on structured formats and replays in Japanese RPG culture)
gnomestew.com
Dr. Ben discusses Hofstede’s Uncertainty Avoidance in TTRPGS. Full Lecture (Episode #115).
#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
00:48 Uncertainty Avoidance
03:16 UAI in Gameplay
04:04 Rules and Mechanics: Structure vs. Flexibility
08:13 Decision-Making and Risk-Taking: Caution vs. Creativity
11:23 Narrative and Storytelling: Guided vs. Emergent Stories
16:30 Player Behavior and GM Facilitation Styles
21:00 Case Examples of UAI
29:48 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
Hofstede, G. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Hofstede, G. (n.d.). “Uncertainty Avoidance.” ClearlyCultural.com – Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions. Retrieved from clearlycultural.com.
Inafune, K. (2007). Interview in 1UP.com, as cited in RPGWatch Forums – Differences between Western and Japanese game design philosophies.
OpenStax – Principles of Management. Section 6.2: Hofstede’s Cultural Framework. (2018). Definitions of uncertainty avoidance
Landis, C. M. (2018). Uncertainty Avoidance and the Japanese. Penn State University Global Context Blog. (Japan’s UAI score and cultural traits)
sites.psu.edu
Scoping Review of TTRPG as Psychological Intervention (2023). Frontiers in Psychology / PMC11299717. (Cultural distinctions influence reactions in TTRPGs)
Wikipedia. “Uncertainty avoidance.” (Last modified 2025). Definition and characteristics of high vs low UAI
Wikipedia. “Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory.” (Last modified 2025). E
The Retired Adventurer (2021). “Six Cultures of Play.” (Discussion of RPG play cultures and tournament module fairness)
retiredadventurer.blogspot.com
Gnome Stew – 10 Things I Learned about Japanese TRPGs (2018). (Notes on structured formats and replays in Japanese RPG culture)
gnomestew.com
