Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to examine what personality types were attracted to Dungeons and Dragons as well as the influence of the game on the psychological and spiritual traits of its players. Fifty participants completed an assessment packet that included the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the Spiritual Perspective Scale (SPS), the D & D questionnaire (DDQ), and a demographics questionnaire. The mean MBTI scores were compared with the national averages using a one-sample t-test analysis. The participants reported personality types involving significantly more introversion, t (49) = -4.07, p < 0.001; more intuition, t (49) = -5.69, p < .001; and more perception, t (49) = -2.36, p < .05, than the reported national averages (all tests two-tailed). The sample did not differ significantly in terms of thinking versus feeling functions. With the SPS and DDQ each having a potential range of 1 - 6, participants found the traits of increased strategy (M = 5.82), imagination development (M = 5.32), creation and maintenance of friendships (M = 5.26), and expression of alter egos (M = 5.78) to be influenced and facilitated by D & D. Participants also scored significantly in the categories of spirituality's importance on meaning of life (M = 5.26) and influence on one's life (M = 5.4) showing a correlation between D & D and spirituality.