Identification with Game Characters: Theoretical Explanations, Predictors, and Psychological Outcomes

Year 2023, Volume: 15 Issue: 2, 203 - 219, 30.06.2023

Özlem İskender

https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1104693

Cited By: 1

Abstract

This review investigates theoretical explanations, predictors, and psychological outcomes of identification with game characters. Theoretical explanations depended on Cohen’s conceptualization of identification with media characters, wishful identification, similarity identification, embodied presence concepts, self-perception, self-discrepancy, and social identity theories. Predictors included customizability, how the character is perceived (ideal, attractive, similar, real), narrative, immersion, presence, age, time spent playing/playing history, player’s psychological characteristics, and perceived performance. Psychological outcomes included enjoyment, flow experience, addiction, problematic gaming, playing motivations, self-efficacy, competence, short-term outcomes (change in aggression, empathy), intention to continue playing, game-related spending, social identification, and in-group bias. The self-discrepancy perspective provides the most prevalent explanation, which proposes that game characters are closer to players’ ideal selves, and identification with the game character reduces their self-discrepancies. However, the social identity perspective offers more overarching explanations discussing identification with game-related groups (groups created within the game and game community) and the game character together, thus pointing to a bigger picture where players develop social identities through interaction with game-related groups. Therefore, unlike other explanations discussing game character identification as a temporary experience, the social identity perspective indicates it may be a lasting experience. Regarding predictors, only two were game-related (customizability, narrative), while most were player-related (e.g., age, time spent playing, player’s psychological characteristics), which might show that player characteristics deserve more attention than the game itself to understand the identification process. Concerning psychological outcomes, while two were positive (enjoyment, flow experience) and two were negative (addiction, problematic gaming), most had various aftermaths, such as a short-term outcome of an increase in aggression or empathy.

Keywords

Video games, game character, identification, self-discrepancy, social-identification

Supporting Institution

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Project Number

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Thanks

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Oyun Karakteriyle Özdeşleşme: Teorik Açıklamaları, Öncülleri ve Psikolojik Çıktıları

Abstract

Bu derleme çalışması, oyun karakteriyle özdeşleşmenin teorik açıklamalarını, öncüllerini ve psikolojik çıktılarını incelemektedir. Teorik açıklamalar, Cohen’in medya karakterleriyle özdeşleşme kavramsallaştırmasına, arzulanan özdeşleşme, benzerlik özdeşleşmesi, somutlaşmış bulunuşluk kavramlarına, kendini algılama, benlik uyuşmazlığı ve sosyal kimlik teorilerine dayanmıştır. Oyun karakteriyle özdeşleşmenin öncülleri şunları içermiştir: Kişiselleştirilebilirlik, oyun karakterinin nasıl algılandığı (ideal, çekici, benzer, gerçek), öyküleme, dalma, bulunuşluk, yaş, oynamaya harcanan süre/oynama geçmişi, oyuncunun psikolojik özellikleri ve algılanan performans. Psikolojik çıktıları ise şunları içermiştir: Keyif alma, akış deneyimi, bağımlılık, problemli oynama, oynama motivasyonları, öz-yeterlik, yeterlik hissi, kısa süreli çıktılar (saldırganlık ve empatide değişim), oynamaya devam etme niyeti, oyunla ilgili harcama yapma, sosyal özdeşleşme ve iç-grup yanlılığı. Oyun karakteriyle özdeşleşmenin en geçerli açıklamasını, oyun karakterlerinin, oyuncuların ideal benliklerine daha yakın olduğunu ve oyun karakteriyle özdeşleşmenin benlik uyuşmazlıklarını azaltabileceğini savunan benlik uyuşmazlığı yaklaşımı sağlamıştır. Ancak, sosyal kimlik perspektifi, oyunla ilgili gruplarla (oyun içinde oluşturulan gruplar ve oyun topluluğu) ve oyun karakteriyle özdeşleşmeyi birlikte ele alarak daha kapsayıcı açıklamalar sunmuş, oyuncuların, oyunla ilgili gruplarla etkileşimleri vasıtasıyla sosyal kimlikler geliştirdiğini gösteren büyük resmi de tasvir etmiştir. Böylece, oyun karakteriyle özdeşleşmeyi geçici bir deneyim olarak ele alan diğer açıklamaların aksine, uzun süreli bir deneyim olabileceğini göstermiştir. Öncüllere bakıldığında, yalnızca ikisinin oyunla ilgili olduğu (kişiselleştirilebilirlik, öyküleme), çoğunun ise oyuncuyla ilgili olduğu (yaş, oynamaya harcanan süre, oyuncuların psikolojik özellikleri gibi) görülmüştür. Bu, özdeşleşme sürecini anlamada, oyuncu özelliklerinin, oyundan daha önemli olduğunu gösteriyor olabilir. Psikolojik çıktılara bakıldığında, ikisinin olumlu (keyif alma, akış deneyimi), ikisinin olumsuz (bağımlılık, problemli oynama) olarak değerlendirilmesi mümkünken, birçoğunun çok çeşitli neticeleri olabildiği görülmüştür, saldırganlıkta ya da empatide kısa süreli bir değişim gibi.

Keywords

Video oyunları, oyun karakteri, özdeşleşme, benlik çelişkisi, sosyal özdeşleşme

Project Number

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