“Who Am I” and “How Should I Be”: a Systematic Review on Self-Concept and Avatar Identification in Gaming Disorder

Abstract

Purpose of Review Gaming disorder (GD) appears to be associated with self-concept deficits and increased identification with one's avatar. The goal of this literature review is to highlight study findings assessing psychological and neurobiological correlates of self-concept-related characteristics and avatar identification in GD. Recent Findings The review was based on three literature researches on GD: (1) self-esteem, (2) emotional, social, and academic self-concept domains and avatar identification, and (3) neurobiological correlates of self-concept and avatar identification. The results indicate that GD is associated with decreased self-esteem as well as deficits in physical, social, and emotional self-concept domains. A relatively stable relationship between higher avatar identification and GD was reported in addicted gamers. Furthermore, addicted gamers showed increased activation of brain regions associated with Theory-of-Mind processing while contemplating their own avatar. Summary The results point towards impairments in self-concept and increased identification with the virtual gaming character in addicted gamers. This virtual compensation fosters the formation of an idealized self-concept, which grows increasingly distant from their own self-image. Thus, additional empirically based psychological interventions should focus on the development of a realistic self-image by reducing the dysfunctional discrepancy between the ideal self and the real self.

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

“…Online gaming activities have become increasingly sophisticated in terms of the interactive experiences offered to players ( Billieux et al, 2015 , King et al, 2018 , King et al, 2019a , Lemenager et al, 2020 ). An important element of gaming that enhances this interactivity is the playable avatar projected into an immersive digital environment ( Bailey et al, 2013 , Bessière et al, 2007 , Burleigh et al, 2018 , King and Delfabbro, 2014 , Trepte and Reinecke, 2010 ).…”

Player-avatar interactions in habitual and problematic gaming: A qualitative investigation

“…Video games offer increasingly sophisticated interactive experiences (Billieux et al, 2015;King, Herd, & Delfabbro, 2017;King, Koster, & Billieux, 2019;Lemenager, Neissner, Sabo, Mann & Kiefer, 2020). Avatars are one of the important elements of gaming that enhances this interactivity (Gilbert et al, 2014;Sibilla & Mancini, 2018;Vasalou & Joinson, 2009).…”

“…However, almost all types of games (e.g., sports and racing, shooters, strategy and puzzle games) can include avatars and roleplaying options (Ducheneaut, Wen, Yee, & Wadley, 2009;King & Delfabbro, 2019). Although many player-avatar interactions confer personal benefits (e.g., enjoyment, creativity, identity exploration), avatar features have recently been the focus of survey-based and neuroimaging studies into the development and maintenance of problematic gaming (Green, Delfabbro, & King, 2020;Lemenager et al, 2020).…”

“…Selfdiscrepancy theory suggests that people can experience a lack of fulfilment and distress when there are large discrepancies between these selves, and some researchers have suggested that using avatars to generate an alternative selfidentity may help resolve such discrepancies. There is growing quantitative evidence on the topic of avatars and problem gaming exploring this possibility (Green et al, 2020;Lemenager et al, 2020), including survey-based and neuroimaging studies (Choi et al, 2018;Dieter et al, 2015;Kim et al, 2018;Lemenager et al, 2014Lemenager et al, , 2016, but relatively few qualitative (e.g., interview, case report) studies (Allison et al, 2006;Gilbert et al, 2014;Hussain & Griffiths, 2009). A current gap in this literature has been the lack of qualitative methods (e.g., interview, case report, and openresponse data) to investigate gamers' experiences with avatars and their potential relationship to problematic gaming (Green et al, 2020;Tsai & Lin, 2003).…”

Reliability of the fMRI-based assessment of self-evaluation in individuals with internet gaming disorder

“…A negative self-concept-defined as a high discrepancy in the evaluation between the subjective self and ideal self-is often reported to be associated with gaming and other internet related disorders [16,18,31,32]. A recent review on self-esteem and self-concept in gaming disorders, reported stable associations between gaming disorders and negative physical and academic self-concept domains [17].…”