I don't grasp what they mean by an avatar. Are they referring to people creating a highly customised avatar in something like an MMO? Are they referring to when people have a specific and continual personality on social media? Are they investing in just one avatar, like someone who only plays Fortnite?
I've created a lot of gaming avatars over the years, but I can't say any of them reflected my mental wellbeing. They were all pretty specific to the game's context. And on social media, such as here, I engage based on specific goals and desires (engaging about gaming and growing my audience).
I suppose this research makes sense for people who conflate their real personality with digital make-believe. But I'd say those types already have issues. I can't imagine an average mentally-healthy person would invest so much in an avatar that it becomes some type of digital twin.
You're right, this doesn't really apply to those without mental health issues. I think the researchers took a broad meaning of the word avatar: any digital representation of yourself (but from the way they conducted their study, mostly customizable game characters).
And I think what you described was the intent of the researchers -- that what that relationship looks like may be a window into your mental state. I probably didn't explain it all that well -- it's not that the more you customize the more likely you are to have depression or anxiety.
I skimmed through the research you linked through, though I admit I find academic reading really boring! I'm glad you're doing some interpretation.
These insights should serve as a warning sign for people who over-invest in playing games. I love the medium, but I suspect many use it as an extreme form of escapism to avoid mental issues and necessary life pressures. Hopefully, this type of research will encourage healthcare providers to look at games with more nuance, not just as something lazy people do.
For me this rings true even for something like discord profile pictures. I had a phase where I wasn’t too mentally sound and I felt the strong need that the picture reflects my mood accurately. It wasn’t a detailed picture at all, it just could be a blinking red dot if that fit the mood, but I spent a lot of time finding the graphics that felt right
Thanks for sharing. I think that's what I'm seeing. If someone invests heavily in their avatar specifically to reflect or bolster their real-world personality, there's likely something else going on.
I don't grasp what they mean by an avatar. Are they referring to people creating a highly customised avatar in something like an MMO? Are they referring to when people have a specific and continual personality on social media? Are they investing in just one avatar, like someone who only plays Fortnite?
I've created a lot of gaming avatars over the years, but I can't say any of them reflected my mental wellbeing. They were all pretty specific to the game's context. And on social media, such as here, I engage based on specific goals and desires (engaging about gaming and growing my audience).
I suppose this research makes sense for people who conflate their real personality with digital make-believe. But I'd say those types already have issues. I can't imagine an average mentally-healthy person would invest so much in an avatar that it becomes some type of digital twin.
You're right, this doesn't really apply to those without mental health issues. I think the researchers took a broad meaning of the word avatar: any digital representation of yourself (but from the way they conducted their study, mostly customizable game characters).
And I think what you described was the intent of the researchers -- that what that relationship looks like may be a window into your mental state. I probably didn't explain it all that well -- it's not that the more you customize the more likely you are to have depression or anxiety.
I skimmed through the research you linked through, though I admit I find academic reading really boring! I'm glad you're doing some interpretation.
These insights should serve as a warning sign for people who over-invest in playing games. I love the medium, but I suspect many use it as an extreme form of escapism to avoid mental issues and necessary life pressures. Hopefully, this type of research will encourage healthcare providers to look at games with more nuance, not just as something lazy people do.
For me this rings true even for something like discord profile pictures. I had a phase where I wasn’t too mentally sound and I felt the strong need that the picture reflects my mood accurately. It wasn’t a detailed picture at all, it just could be a blinking red dot if that fit the mood, but I spent a lot of time finding the graphics that felt right
Thanks for sharing. I think that's what I'm seeing. If someone invests heavily in their avatar specifically to reflect or bolster their real-world personality, there's likely something else going on.
Yeah, the over investment is a danger for sure and something the authors point out too.
I'll admit, for every article I share here, there are like 10 others that leave me...less than inspired 😂