Images

Seth Carroll, Psyd, is a 2025 graduate of the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, Seattle.

Dissertation Committee:

Melissa Kennedy, PhD, Committee Chair

Dana Waters, PsyD, ABPP, Committee Member

Raffael Boccamazzo, PsyD, Committee Member

Keywords

LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQIA+, identity, identity exploration, tabletop role-playing games, Dungeons & Dragons, interpretive phenomenological analysis, young adults

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

This study explored the phenomenon of a growing queer subculture within the tabletop role-playing game community. Eight participants, all self-identified members of the LGBTQIA+ community with significant experience playing tabletop role-playing games, were interviewed to better understand their lived experience within this subculture, what draws them to playing tabletop role-playing games, and the personal impacts and meaning they draw from engaging in them. Participants identified as White, between the ages of 23 and 30, and represented a variety of queer identities in both sexuality and gender. Data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) in order to derive six group experiential themes from 12 personal experiential themes. Group experiential themes identified were (a) the table is a place to feel safe, (b) the table is a place to explore, (c) the table is a place to escape, (d) the table is a place to collaborate, (e) the table is a place to grow, and (f) when the table is not that place. Participants identified their experiences playing tabletop role-playing games as deeply meaningful and intimately linked to their own and fellow players’ queer identities and development. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Comments

Seth Carroll, PsyD, 2025

ORCID Scholar No. 0009-0001-6544-4492

Publications/Presentations:

Cheng, I., Bath, M., DeMella, J. M., Sloan, M. O., Carroll, S., Hutzenbiler, A. E., & Toohey, M.J. (2021). Similarities and Differences in Brain Changes from Anger, Irritability and Aggression [poster presentation]. American Psychological Association, Washington DC.

DeMella, J. M., Sloan, M., Harrison, H., Cheng, I., Scheiderer, C., Carroll, S., Hutzenbiler, A.,Bath, M., & Toohey, M. J. (2024). Exploring the causes, experience, consequences, and treatment of irritability, anger, and aggression amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Minerva Psychiatry. Minerva, 65(1), 2-19.

Download

Share

COinS