Actual Self vs. Avatar Self

The Effect of Online Social Situation on Self-Expression

Bibliographic Data

ID19544690
AuthorsYongjun Sung (0000-0002-5714-1651, The University of Texas at Austin), Jang Ho Moon (The University of Texas at Austin), Mihyun Kang (0000-0001-8729-2779, The University of Texas at Austin), Jhih-Syuan Lin (0000-0002-2026-5095, The University of Texas at Austin)
Year2011
Volume4
Issue1
Publication date2011-03-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Virtual Worlds Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1941-8477 • E-ISSN: 1941-8477
PublisherVirtual Worlds Institute, Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.4101/jvwr.v4i1.1927
OpenAlexW2234224674
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited31

This paper investigates whether online social contexts can prime individuals to create avatars that emphasize particular characteristics and personality traits that are different from their actual selves. The results show that while the participants’ avatar personality ratings are correlated with their own personality ratings across the Big-Five personality dimensions, they still try to express personality characteristics that are somewhat different from their actual selves in virtual environment. Further, with respect to the relationship between avatar personality ratings (given by creators) and those by zero-acquaintances, no significant relationships were observed (with the exception of the Agreeableness dimension)

Agreeableness · Alternative five model of personality · Avatar · Big Five personality traits · Big Five personality traits and culture · Human–computer interaction · Personality · Computer Science · Media Influence and Health · Personality Traits and Psychology · Psychology · Social Psychology · Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts

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Open DOISci-HubOpen Access