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Message: <blockquote data-quote="boxstop7" data-source="post: 510924" data-attributes="member: 8804">Gotta chime in...I don't think it's really about psychology, per se.  Yes, there is a section of the brain that controls these things.  It's called the right brain.  It's the creative half of the human brain, with the left brain being more oriented toward mathematical and analytical thinking.  To me, RPGs are distinctly different than therapuetic role-playing (henceforth referred to as "TRP").  TRP is used primarily in therapy to confront, and deal with, feelings that have been repressed or hidden from the self.  TRP can also be used in helping a client overcome phobias, or to overcome errrors in thinking (for all you cognitive psychologists out there <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />).  It's a tool used by the therapist to get at the perceived root of a psychological problem.  I have never been involved with an RPG that was even akin to this type of role-playing.  RPGs are about acting.  You're taking on a role that is nowhere near grounded in reality (with the possible exception of modern d20 games).  You're thinking and reacting to imaginary situations (and this is the key, here...) with OTHER PEOPLE.  You're all sharing the adventure, working with one another to solve a mystery, complete a quest, etc.  We're able to step out of our drab everyday world and pretend to be part of something wholly different.  The human imagination welcomes these kinds of exercises.  But we're able to return from the make-believe worlds and get back to our daily lives as if nothing happened.I'm actually more intrigued by your game theory analogy.  I find game theory, in and of itself, a fascinating proposition.  Bearing in mind, of course, that John Nash was a major contributor.  I've seen game theory applied to all sorts of things: discussions of (sometimes Machiavellian) military strategy, consumer economics, even the equal allocation and distribution of broadband internet access.  As I understand game theory, it does involve determining the "optimal response" to a situation.  But there has been a good deal of resistance to game theory, and IMHO it's because it works (but I'm a known conspiracy theorist <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />).Regardless, it's a very interesting topic.  Unfortunately, it's an exercise in philosophy and therefore unlikely to really take us any place concrete.  But a truly intriguing discussion nonetheless.  On a final note, I would agree with those that state Christianity's opposition to RPGs lies in the polytheistic, magic-wielding, demon-wandering nature of the games.  It's viewed as heresy, and as sin.  And since questions arise from a good imagination, it makes sense that any staunch religion would want to avoid situations which could lead members to question the faith.  They fail to acknowledge that questioning your faith often leads to a deeper understanding of it.  Just my .02Feel free to continue the debate if I've said anything that shakes your tree.  This is a GREAT debate! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />~Box</blockquote>

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