Seeing Through the Avatar’s Eyes: Effects of Perspective and Gender Match on Identification and Enjoyment

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session and Reception
  In Interactive Paper Session: Game Studies Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This exploratory study examines the ways in which avatar perspective and gender match may interact to influence identification and enjoyment while also parsing apart identification into several distinct dimensions: physical similarity, homophily, customization, perspective-taking, wishful identification, and liking. Seventy-eight college students played a video game in which avatar perspective (first-person vs. third-person) and gender match were manipulated. Results showed that, while perspective and gender match did not influence identification and enjoyment separately, they did together. Support was also found for a multi-dimensional conceptualization of identification, as they were affected differently by the experimental conditions. They also predicted enjoyment to differing degrees. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Authors

• Arienne Ferchaud, Pennsylvania State University

• Meghan Shara Sanders, Louisiana State U