By their very nature, role-playing games are intensely immersive activities, with players experiencing various risks, rewards and social interactions all within the relatively consequence-free space of the game. This volume takes a deeper look at the world of role-playing games, providing a theoretical framework for understanding the more acute psychological and sociological functions of role-playing games. Although mainstream media channels often dismiss involvement in role-playing games as escapist and potentially dangerous, role-playing actually encourages creativity, self-awareness, group...