Does avatar's character and emotional bond expose to gaming addiction? Two studies on virtual self-discrepancy, avatar identification and gaming addiction in massively multiplayer online role-playing game players

Mancini, Tiziana; Imperato, Chiara; Sibilla, Federica

doi:10.1016/j.chb.2018.11.007

Cited by 79 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Furthermore, a closer attachment developed between the gamer and their in-game avatar, especially from a body-connection perception perspective (PSP), might exacerbate the length of game sessions and game-character immersion, resulting in higher dysfunctionality across several everyday life domains (e.g., personal relationships, education, and/or occupation; Burleigh et al 2018;Adams et al 2018;Liew et al 2018). This finding is consistent with research conducted concerning in-game avatar attachment and identification (Leménager et al 2016;Mancini et al 2019) because greater levels of avatar attachment and identification have been found to be risk factors for IGD (Burleigh et al 2018;You et al 2017). Therefore, the perception and experience of the self by the user being bonded (especially from a bodily perspective) with the avatar might need to be accounted for in therapeutic situations because IGD behaviors are interwoven with known avatar-related motivational factors (i.e., avatar performance-related self-esteem, identification, and immersion tendencies; Burleigh et al 2018;Adams et al 2018;Liew et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

The Physical, Emotional, and Identity User-Avatar Association with Disordered Gaming: A Pilot Study

Stavropoulos

Dumble

Cokorilo

et al. 2019

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a rapidly expanding psychopathological manifestation necessitating further research and clinical attention. Although recent research has investigated relationships between user-avatar and excessive gaming, little is known about the interplay between IGD and avatar self-presence and its dimensions (i.e., the physical, emotional, and identity bond developed between the user and the in-game character). The aim of the present pilot study was twofold: (i) to investigate the associations between physical, emotional, and identity aspects of self-presence associate and IGD severity, and (ii) to assess IGD variations longitudinally in relation to the three dimensions of self-presence (i.e., proto-self-presence, core-self-presence, and extended-self-presence). The sample comprised 125 young adults aged between 18 and 29 years who underwent either (i) three offline measurements (1 month apart, over 3 months) or (ii) a cross-sectional online measurement. Regression and latent growth analysis indicated that the initial intensity of the physical, emotional, and identity self-presence aspects associated with IGD severity, but not to its longitudinal change. Overall, young adult gamers may exhibit higher IGD risk and severity when the experience of physical, emotional, and identity bonding with their in-game character is pronounced. The implications surrounding treatment and preventative policy recommendations are further discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

The Physical, Emotional, and Identity User-Avatar Association with Disordered Gaming: A Pilot Study

Stavropoulos

Dumble

Cokorilo

et al. 2019

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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“…The results of their mediation model showed that self-concept clarity was both directly and indirectly (via escape motive) associated with problematic online gaming. These findings were consistent with other studies that reported that some players created an avatar with idealized attributes to compensate for perceived inadequacies ( Bessière et al, 2007 , Lemenager et al, 2014 , 2020), and studies reporting significant positive correlations between avatar identification and excessive gaming (Lemenager et al 2013; Mancini et al, 2019 ; Smahel et al, 2008; You et al, 2017 , T’ng and Pau, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Research suggests that players form an attachment to, or identify with aspects of, their avatar ( Li et al, 2013 , Liew et al, 2018 , Przybylski et al, 2012 ). This has been described in the literature as a “strong emotional bond” ( Mancini et al, 2019 ), “powerful psychological component of the gaming world” (Stavropoulos, Pinches, Morcos, & Pontes, 2019), and important to an “individual’s personal narrative, psychological wellbeing, and self-conception” ( Wolfendale, 2007 ). Further, avatars have been proposed to fulfil important needs of the user ( Wolfendale, 2007 ), allowing gamers to express “suppressed versions of their psyche” ( Stavropoulos et al, 2020a ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Avatar identification and problematic gaming: The role of self-concept clarity

Green

Delfabbro

King

2021

Addictive Behaviors

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Highlights Survey of 993 gamers to study avatar identification, self-concept clarity, and problem gaming. Avatar identification scores did not differ greatly according to avatar features or game type. Wishful identification was the only significant avatar identification predictor of problem gaming. Avatar identification was related to higher problem gaming scores and poorer self-concept clarity. Significant indirect effect of avatar identification on problem gaming through self-concept clarity.

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“…A significant attachment between the user and the avatar is subsequently formed, leading to an increase in gaming involvement and IGD risk (Livingston, Gutwin, Mandryk & Birk, 2014). Furthermore, a recent study found that the more idealized the avatar is for the player, the more IGD symptoms are experienced via the player's increased avatar identification (Mancini, Imperato & Sibilla, 2019). Thus, IGD risk is generally greater among gamers who customize an idealized avatar and exhibit high levels of identification with it (Mancini, Imperato & Sibilla, 2019).…”

Section: Internet Gaming Disorder and Risk Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Internet Gaming Disorder: Compensating as a Draenei in World of Warcraft

Morcos

Stavropoulos

Rennie

et al. 2019

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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The diagnosis of Gaming Disorder (GD) has been recently proposed in the beta draft of the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) by the World Health Organization (WHO). This follows the inclusion of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), as a condition requiring additional research in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5), issued by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Further research has been recommended to enhance understanding of excessive gaming, especially in the context of user-avatar (in-game figure representing the gamer) relationships. The association between selecting the Draenei race, compensation of real-life deficits through gaming and the gamer's gender were investigated as IGD risk factors among players of the online game, World of Warcraft (WoW). A normative online sample of WoW gamers (N = 404 Mage = 25.56; 13-75; Males = 299; 74%) completed the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF) and the compensation subscale of the User-Avatar Questionnaire. Regression, mediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted. Overall, players with higher levels of compensation exhibited greater levels of IGD symptoms. Interestingly, choosing the Draenei race was associated with increased compensatory behavior, which in turn linked to higher IGD risk. These associations were mildly stronger among females. Findings suggest that virtual demographics, such as the Draenei race, and their interplay with compensatory behaviors should be carefully considered when creating prevention and intervention policies targeting excessive gaming, especially when it involves the use of avatars.

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Does avatar's character and emotional bond expose to gaming addiction? Two studies on virtual self-discrepancy, avatar identification and gaming addiction in massively multiplayer online role-playing game players

Cited by 79 publications

References 29 publications

The Physical, Emotional, and Identity User-Avatar Association with Disordered Gaming: A Pilot Study

The Physical, Emotional, and Identity User-Avatar Association with Disordered Gaming: A Pilot Study

Avatar identification and problematic gaming: The role of self-concept clarity

Internet Gaming Disorder: Compensating as a Draenei in World of Warcraft

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