What shapes a parasocial relationship in RVGs? The effects of avatar images, avatar identification, and romantic jealousy among potential, casual, and core players

Relational Victimization and Video Game Addiction among Female College Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Social Anxiety and Parasocial Relationship

“…As video games always provide various virtual characters with which to interact, it seems to be a favorable environment for the development of parasocial relationships. Although a parasocial relationship is an attractive experience in video games, it can be problematic in some cases [ 45 ], especially in cases when the parasocial relationships with virtual characters in video games may be a compensation for the social relations in real life [ 46 , 47 ]. Based on the parasocial compensation hypothesis, the need to belong could be satisfied with parasocial relationships by compensating for the lack of relationships in real life [ 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”

“…The parasocial compensation hypothesis also indicated that parasocial relationships are associated with unsatisfying social life and social deficits [ 48 ]. Previous studies found that parasocial relationships support social function [ 53 ] and can be resources to substitute or compensate for close relationships and social belonging [ 46 , 54 ]. In addition, existing studies also indicated that peer victimization is a predictor of mobile social addiction [ 55 , 56 ], which means that people whose social life is hindered may find some controllable ways to compensate.…”

From fun to fantasy: Gaming experiences, perceived presence, and adolescent romantic parasocial attachments in romantic video games.

“…Romantic video games (RVGs), a genre in which players control an avatar to form a romantic relationship with a chosen male game character (Song & Fox, 2016), are a medium for female game players to experience the pleasures of identification and romantic gratification (H. Kim, 2009). The parasocial gaming experiences enhance enjoyment by giving players the illusion of being in a real relationship (Hua & Xiao, 2023). The experience of presence, being immersed in a game, has been shown to contribute to parasocial romantic attachments (Jin & Park, 2009;H.…”

“…Like real-life social relationships, PSRs are ongoing relationships that can develop and deepen with repeated exposure (Tukachinsky & Dorros, 2018). In RVGs, the PSR between the player and the chosen male game character is like the imitation of human romantic relationships, which could fulfill the players' romantic needs (Hua & Xiao, 2023;Koike et al, 2020).…”

“…Kim, 2009). The parasocial gaming experiences enhance enjoyment by giving players the illusion of being in a real relationship (Hua & Xiao, 2023). The experience of presence, being immersed in a game, has been shown to contribute to parasocial romantic attachments (Jin & Park, 2009; H.…”