How Dungeons and Dragons can empower those with autism (2024)

Discover how Dungeons & Dragons creates a transformative space where autistic adults can forge meaningful connections, boost self-esteem, and rewrite their personal narratives through the power of role-playing.

Study:A critical hit: Dungeons and Dragons as a buff for autistic people. Image Credit: Esther H. Derksen / Shutterstock.com

In a recent study published in the journalAutism, researchers explored the potential of tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) to enhance social interactions and self-esteem in autistic adults through a six-week Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaign.

How does autism affect social interactions?

Autism is prevalent across all demographics, with approximately one in every 100 children diagnosed globally. Autistic individuals often face social challenges, including smaller social networks and higher rates of loneliness.

Social connection remains vital for the well-being of these individuals; however, traditional social environments can exacerbate masking behaviors, thereby leading to poor mental health outcomes. Shared hobbies, particularly those involving structured and interest-based activities like TTRPGs, offer the potential for meaningful social interaction and reduced masking.

Nevertheless, additional research is needed to evaluate TTRPGs as a neurodivergent-affirming approach for enhancing well-being in autistic adults.

About the study

Study participants were recruited through advertisem*nts on D&D and TTRPG Reddit and Discord communities, specifically targeting individuals comfortable with participating in the sessions and discussing their role-playing experiences in interviews. Eight participants with a mean age of 23.3 years had confirmed autism diagnoses from medical professionals.

The study cohort comprised four males, two females, one nonbinary, and one gender-fluid participant with diverse backgrounds, including American, British, and Brazilian nationalities. These individuals were divided into two groups of four players, each led by an experienced Game Master (GM), to ensure optimal discussion and turn-taking during the sessions. Ethical approval was obtained from Edge Hill University and all study participants provided informed consent.

Study participants engaged in six sessions of the premade D&D campaign "Waterdeep: Dragon Heist," using online platforms Discord and Roll20. The GM, who also conducted the interviews, facilitated the game.

Each session lasted two to four hours and involved role-playing, combat, and political negotiation within the game's narrative. Following the campaign, study participants were interviewed individually through Microsoft Teams, with interviews lasting 30 to 60 minutes. The semi-structured interviews explored participants' experiences both within and outside the TTRPG setting.

Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to capture the participants' lived experiences. Detailed and case-by-case analyses of the interview transcripts were performed by collaboratively identifying and organizing themes that reflected the participants' perspectives and experiences.

Social motivation

Study participants consistently discussed the social challenges they faced in everyday life and revealed a lack of confidence in their communication skills. These individuals often felt disconnected in conversations, which led to a negative narrative about their social lives, feeling that social rejection was inevitable.

Despite these struggles, study participants expressed a strong desire for social interaction. They enjoyed being around others and participating in group activities but feared making social mistakes. This fear often led to masking behaviors, where they would hide their autistic traits or avoid conflict to fit in with others. Masking, while momentarily allowing them to blend in, resulted in a performative way of interacting that felt insincere and exhausting.

More successful interactions in TTRPGs

TTRPGs, particularly D&D, provided a more successful platform for social interaction. The study participants reported that TTRPGs offered a structured and collaborative environment that differed significantly from everyday social situations.

The shared goal within the game and the defined roles of characters made communication easier and more intuitive. Likewise, the absence of competitiveness and focus on group collaboration allowed participants to engage more confidently.

The tabletop space also facilitated the development of friendships, as participants could bypass small talk and connect over shared interests. The structure provided by D&D helped alleviate the anxiety often associated with unstructured social interactions, thereby allowing for more meaningful and comfortable exchanges.

Bleed and emotional investment

Some study participants enjoyed the opportunity to explore different aspects of their personality through characters in the game. This role-playing allowed these individuals to see the world from a new perspective, often leading to personal growth and understanding.

For others, the boundary between their character and real life was more fluid, with traits from their own lives bleeding into their character's persona and vice versa. This 'bleeding' allowed participants to explore their identity in a safe and imaginative space, sometimes rewriting their own narratives in the process. Furthermore, blending real and fictional experiences provided a sense of empowerment and belonging, thus reinforcing the idea that their differences could be strengths in a fantasy setting.

Conclusions

Although autistic adults are motivated to engage socially, they often find everyday interactions challenging. TTRPGs, such as D&D, can provide a supportive, structured environment that facilitates meaningful social interactions.

These games allowed study participants to connect with others without the pressure to mask their autistic traits, thus enabling them to build friendships and reframe their lives through their characters' heroic narratives.

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