Logos and Analysis - The Science Behind Reckless Behavior

What?

Life is difficult. Time management is a struggle I am noticing again this year that I hope to tackle with November's journaling SDA challenge. What I plan to research now is something big: how people make decisions. However, I also want to break this large topic up into smaller parts by thinking about two different things: smart decisions and reckless decisions. These topics aren't as far apart as they may seem: in fact, according to Stanford University, all decisions have the same backgrounds. Utility (what people gain from consumption, in economic terms) drives decision-making, but so does risk. The assumptions you can maintain are similar to those found in economics: rationality, stable preferences, and selfishness. It is to be assumed that people make decisions that make sense and benefit themselves and their agendas. That does not change when it comes to roleplaying games, but the risk is lower. Thus, people make more reckless decisions.

So What?

One thing I really want to explore with the decision-making psychology is finding out if any of the reckless behaviors that people exhibit in role playing games affect them in the real world in any way (positively or negatively). A paper from the University of Missouri-Columbia states, "Adolescence bears a higher potential for recklessness compared to other developmental periods in every culture and in every time." Adolescents, who tend to be the demographic for most games, are easily affected by external factors that contribute to risk behaviors, but they also have the flexibility and lack of responsibility that can contribute to significant positive changes. Do roleplaying games actually help a player learn how to effectively observe and analyze their surroundings and make beneficial decisions, or do they promote a lack of caution and thrive on adrenaline?

Now What?

I plan to go through the PHB (Player's Handbook) and Dungeon Master's Guide as well as other studies aside from the ones mentioned in this journal and learn about the role decision-making has in Dungeons and Dragons both on the player's and storyteller's side. Then, I want to find studies of people who have played role playing games and see what benefits they have gained from them. I also am currently looking into the science, psychology, and sociology behind risky behaviors displayed by adolescents and seeing if there are any factors mentioned that have a correlation with role playing games.

I'll be back tomorrow with some findings: after all, it will be Wednesday! Here's to a fresh start.