The virtual self : exploring the influence of virtual worlds on self-concept and psychological well-being: a qualitative study

Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) offer gamers the possibility to define themselves anew in front of an unknown audience, allowing them to be more the person they ideally wish to be. The present study set out to explore in which ways the maintenance of online identities can influence the self-concept and psychological well-being of gamers. Nine semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with Dutch and German undergraduate students were conducted and analyzed with the help of the framework approach, out of which five themes emerged: (a) play-style & preferences, (b) social aspects of MMORPGs, (c) avatar creation & maintenance, (d) I/Ideal/Avatar relations and (e) real life & well-being. The findings of the study clarified the meaning of the virtual self and uncovered novel aspects with regard to avatar creation and maintenance, which the study related to player’s real life well-being.