Common questions about Role-playing

Short answers, pulled from the story.

What is the psychological purpose of role-playing for children?

Role-playing serves as the fundamental psychological mechanism through which a child defines the concept of I and creates a boundary between their own identity and the expectations of others. This process allows children to separate the self from the adult world and explore power dynamics and social rules in a safe environment. Without this shifting of behavior, complex social structures would remain inaccessible to the developing mind.

When did Viola Spolin and Keith Johnstone begin developing theatre games involving role-playing?

Viola Spolin and Keith Johnstone began developing theatre games in the classroom as early as 1946. Spolin later became a founder of the famous comedy troupe Second City and accurately judged role-playing in the theatre as rehearsal and actor training. Their methods have since been adopted for fun and transformed the way people approach improvisation and social interaction.

How many people participate in online role-playing games?

Online role-playing involves anywhere from two to several hundred people utilizing public forums, private message boards, mailing lists, chatrooms, and instant-messaging chat services. These digital environments allow participants to build worlds and characters that may last a few hours or several years. Players often set rules and standards such as minimum word counts and character applications to increase the complexity and depth of the story.

Which psychologists conducted early classic social psychological experiments using role-playing?

Kurt Lewin conducted early classic social psychological experiments using role-playing in 1939, followed by Stanley Milgram in 1963 and Phillip Zimbardo in 1971. Herbert Kelman suggested that role-playing might be the most promising source of research methods alternative to methods using deception. These experiments found that role-playing resulted in behavioral change, such as smokers reporting negative attitudes after pretending to be a person diagnosed with lung cancer.

What is the teddy bear hospital role-playing strategy used for?

The teddy bear hospital strategy allows pediatric and nursing medical students to act as a teddy doctor to children who act as the carer of a teddy or another soft toy. This role-playing requires consultation to reduce anxiety and improve patient outcomes of children. Programs for teddy bear hospitals exist in dozens of universities and medical facilities worldwide to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical empathy in medical training.

How did the army use role-playing simulations with computers?

The army began full-time role-playing simulations with soldiers using computers both within full scale training exercises and for training in numerous specific tasks under wartime conditions. Examples include weapon firing, vehicle simulators, and control station mock-ups designed to prepare individuals for high-stakes scenarios without the risk of actual combat. These simulations evolved from simple mechanical models to complex computer-generated environments to ensure that the stakes of real-world performance are mitigated by the safety of the role-play environment.

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