Developing Socioemotional Repertoire in Youth through TTRPGs: A Pilot Study
Developing Socioemotional Repertoire in Youth through TTRPGs: A Pilot Study

Summary/Abstract: Gamification has been investigated in various fields, including education. And tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) provide a playful and yet safe space for unique learning experiences to take place. However, the literature on the use of TTRPGs is limited, notedly in behavioural science, and particularly in the Brazilian context. This study begins to explore the use of this type of gaming for the development of behavioural repertoires, especially socioemotional, in young people. The auto-efficacy of university students and individuals from the external community regarding their own social and emotional abilities was assessed before, during, and after their participation in a TTRPG campaign. ATTRPG system developed in a psychology research course was used, with mechanics designed to evoke social and emotional behaviours as challenges were faced. Comparative results before and during the campaign showed an increase in comfort to handle social situations and in confidence to handle emotional issues within the gaming environment. Comparisons before and after the campaign suggest a transfer of learning from the game experiences to their individual repertoires. Despite the promising results, the study addresses its limitations. Finally, the potential of TTRPGs as a psychoeducational tool was highlighted, and further investigations in different areas were suggested.

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