Trent University

Create Your Self: Self-Concept and Avatar Creation

Create Your Self: Self-Concept and Avatar Creation Connor E Leshner Michael G. Reynolds Psychology Psychology Trent University Trent University Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Peterborough, Ontario, Canada [email protected] [email protected] Abstract things people experience when they begin a game, and every…

• Players with low self-esteem experience significantly greater difficulty and lower avatar recognizability when attempting to create an 'actual self' avatar compared to those with high self-esteem.
• Creating an 'ideal self' avatar appears to be a more consistent experience across different levels of self-esteem, suggesting that focusing on aspirational traits may mitigate some of the friction associated with self-representation.
• Avatar creation serves as a critical first-impression touchpoint; players who struggle to connect with their avatar during the initial customization phase may face negative impacts on their overall game enjoyment and engagement.