Real feelings for virtual people: emotional attachments and interpersonal attraction in video games
Coulson, Mark, Barnett, Jane, Ferguson, Christopher J. and Gould, Rebecca L. (2012) Real feelings for virtual people: emotional attachments and interpersonal attraction in video games. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 1 (3) . pp. 176-184. ISSN 2160-4134 [Article] (doi:10.1037/a0028192)
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Abstract
Factors which may affect how people become attracted to virtual characters were explored in an online survey of players of a recent video role-playing game. Seventy-four participants (33 male) completed a series of questionnaires assessing their personality, motivations for game play, and feelings towards the ten non-player characters (NPCs) with whom they had potentially experienced extensive interactions within the game world. Results suggest that people form real and authentic emotional attachments to virtual characters, and that these arise from a complex blend of the players’ personality and motivation, and the virtual characters’ levels of physical attraction, friendliness (or hostility) and general usefulness within the game context. Implications of these findings, and suggestions for future research, are discussed.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Research Areas: | A. > School of Science and Technology > Psychology A. > School of Science and Technology > Psychology > Applied Health Psychology group A. > School of Science and Technology > Psychology > Forensic Psychology Research Group |
| Item ID: | 9094 |
| Useful Links: | |
| Depositing User: | Mark Coulson |
| Date Deposited: | 30 May 2012 05:42 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Nov 2022 00:28 |
| URI: | https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/id/eprint/9094 |
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