A Narrative Inquiry into Self-Discovery, Social, And Emotional Development among Young Adults through Cosplay

Cosplay is a social activity where people dress up and act as characters from various forms of fiction. Current literature discusses how participating in cosplay influences one’s identity construction, social and emotional development, and self-expression. However, there is little to no research that uses a qualitative and Developmental Psychology approach. This study explored the narratives of 8 cosplayers, aged 18-25 years old, focusing on investigating their self-identity, social, and emotional development in the cosplay community. Clandinin and Connelly’s (2000) narrative inquiry was utilized. Findings revealed several central themes: (1) Self-Discovery through Cosplay; (2) Social and Emotional Growth in the Cosplay Community; (3) Skill Development through Cosplay; (4) Emotional Connections with Characters and (5) Integration of Cosplay in Future Plans. Overall, cosplay is more than an entertainment practice, it influences one’s development. Through this study, development programs in the education system can be created to cater to the growth of these cosplayers.