Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Previous article
Next article
Original Article

Identification Processes in Online Groups

Identity Motives in the Virtual Realm of MMORPGs

Published Online:January 01, 2014https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000119

Abstract

Online video games are a popular leisure activity around the world; such virtual environments enable new ways for social identity to develop. This study investigated the motives affecting social identification processes in the massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft (WoW). In this video game, players interact with other players in a tridimensional virtual world through their avatar. A sample of 92 WoW players took part in a data collection Web survey. Building on the theory of social identity, we tested the predictive power of three identification motives: self-esteem enhancement, optimal distinctiveness, and uncertainty reduction. Additionally, considering previous research on MMORPGs, we added identification with the game character and membership duration as further predictors of virtual group identification. The construct of virtual group identification was analyzed at two levels: identification with the faction and guild of the character. Furthermore, the current study was a first attempt to understand whether online identification may lead to group behavior such as evaluative ingroup bias. Our results indicated that traditional motivational theories of social identity were mostly confirmed. Moreover, identification with the avatar emerged as a strong predictor of group identity. Additionally, at both levels of analysis, group attachment led to an evaluative differentiation between the ingroup and outgroup. The findings are discussed in light of modern theories of social identity and media research.

References

  • Aberson, C. L. , Healy, M. , Romero, V. (2000). In-group bias and self-esteem: A meta-analysis. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 4, 157–173. doi: 10.1207/S15327957PSPR0402_04 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Abrams, D. , & Hogg, M. A. (1988). Comments on the motivational status of self-esteem in social identity and intergroup discrimination. European Journal of Social Psychology, 18, 317–334. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2420180403 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Aron, A. , Aron, E. N. , Smollan, D. (1992). Inclusion of other in the self scale and the structure of interpersonal closeness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 596–612. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.63.4.596 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Ashmore, R. D. , Deaux, K. , McLaughlin-Volpe, T. (2004). An organizing framework for collective identity: Articulation and significance of multidimensionality. Psychological Bulletin, 130, 80–114. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.130.1.80 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Bagozzi, R. P. , Dholakia, U. M. , Pearo, L. (2007). Antecedents and consequences of online social interactions. Media Psychology, 9, 77–114. doi: 10.1080/15213260709336804 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Bailenson, J. N. , Beall, A. C. (2006). Transformed social interaction: Exploring the digital plasticity of avatars. In R. Schroeder, A. Axelsson, (Eds.), Avatars at work and play: Collaboration and interaction in shared virtual environments (pp. 1–16). London: Springer doi:10.1007/1-4020-3898-4_1 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Bessière, K. , Seay, A. , Kiesler, S. (2007). The ideal elf: Identity exploration in World of Warcraft. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10, 530–535. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2007.9994 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Billieux, J. , Van der Linden, M. , Achab, S. , Khazaal, Y. , Paraskevopoulos, L. , Zullino, D. , Thorens, G. (2013). Why do you play World of Warcraft? An in-depth exploration of self-reported motivations to play online and in-game behaviours in the virtual world of Azeroth. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(1), 103–109. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2012.07.021 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Blanchard, A. L. , Markus, M. L. (2004). The experienced “sense” of a virtual community: Characteristics and processes. The DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems, 35(1), 65–77. doi: 10.1.1.88.1815 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Blizzard Entertainment . (2004). World of Warcraft [Computer software]. Retrieved from battle.net/wow/ First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Brewer, M. B. (1991). The social self: On being the same and different at the same time. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 17, 475–482. doi: 10.1177/0146167291175001 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Brewer, M. B. (1993). Social identity, distinctiveness, and in-group homogeneity. Social Cognition, 11, 150–164. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Brewer, M. B. (2003). Optimal distinctiveness, social identity, and the self. In M. Leary, J. Tangney, (Eds.), Handbook of self and identity (pp. 480–491). New York: Guilford. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Brown, R. (2000). Social Identity Theory: Past achievements, current problems, and future challenges. European Journal of Social Psychology, 30, 745–778. doi: 10.1002/1099-0992(200011/12)30:6<745::AID-EJSP24>3.0.CO;2-O First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Brown, R. , & Capozza, D. (2006). Motivational, emotional and cultural influences in social identity processes. In R. Brown, D. Capozza, (Eds.), Social identities: Motivational, emotional, cultural influences (pp. 3–29). Hove, UK: Psychology Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Capozza, D. , Brown, R. , Aharpour, S. , Falvo, R. (2006). A comparison of motivational theories of identification. In R. Brown, D. Capozza, (Eds.), Social identities: Motivational, emotional, cultural influences (pp. 51–72). Hove, UK: Psychology Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Code, J. , & Zaparyniuk, N. (2010). Social identities, group formation, and analysis of online communities. In S. Dasgupta, (Ed.), Social computing: Concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications (pp. 1346–1361). New York: IGI doi: 10.4018/978-1-60566-208-4.ch007 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Cole, H. , & Griffiths, M. D. (2007). Social interactions in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing gamers. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 10, 575–583. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2007.9988 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Dholakia, U. M. , Bagozzi, R. P. , Pearo, L. (2004). A social influence model of consumer participation in network and small group based virtual communities. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 21(3), 241–263. doi: 10.1016/j.ijresmar.2003.12.004 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Dunn, R. A. , Guadagno, R. E. (2012). My avatar and me: Gender and personality predictors of avatar-self discrepancy. Computers in Human Behavior, 28(1), 97–106. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2011.08.015 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Easterbrook, M. , Vignoles, V. L. (2012). Different groups, different motives: Identity motives underlying changes in identification with novel groups. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(8), 1066–1080. doi: 10.1177/0146167212444614 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Gabbiadini, A. , Mari, S. , Volpato, C. (2011). Internet come strumento di ricerca: Linee guida per la creazione di web survey [Internet as a research tool: Guidelines for creating web surveys]. Psicologia Sociale, 2, 237–258. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Gabbiadini, A. , Mari, S. , Volpato, C. (2013). Virtual users support forum: Do community members really want to help you? Cyberpsychology, Behaviorand Social Networking, 16(4), 285–292. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2012.0412 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Griffiths, M. D. , Davies, M. N. O. , Chappell, D. (2003). Breaking the stereotype: The case of online gaming. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 6, 81–91. doi: 10.1089/109493103321167992 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Griffiths, M. D. , Davies, M. N. O. , Chappell, D. (2004). Demographic factors and playing variables in online gaming. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 7, 487–497. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2004.7.479 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hewstone, M. , Rubin, M. , Willis, H. (2002). Intergroup bias. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 575–604. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135109 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hogg, M. A. (2000). Subjective uncertainty reduction through self-categorization: A motivational theory of social identity processes. European Review of Social Psychology, 11, 223–255. doi: 10.1080/14792772043000040 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hogg, M. A. , Abrams, D. (1993). Towards a single-process uncertainty-reduction model of social motivation in groups. In M. A. Hogg, D. Abrams, (Eds.), Group motivation: Social psychological perspectives (pp. 173–190). New York: Harvester Wheatsheaf. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Hogg, M. A. , Sherman, D. K. , Dierselhuis, J. , Maitner, A. T. , & Moffitt, G. (2007). Uncertainty, entitativity, and group identification. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43, 135–142. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2005.12.008 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hu, L. , & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6(1), 1–55. doi: 10.1080/10705519909540118 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Jöreskog, K. G. , Sörbom, D. (2006). LISREL for Windows. Lincolnwood, IL: Scientific Software International. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Kenny, D. A. , McCoach, D. B. (2003). Effect of the number of variables on measures of fit in structural equation modeling. structural equation modeling, 10, 333–3511. doi: 10.1207/S15328007SEM1003_1 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Klimmt, C. , Hartmann, T. , Frey, A. (2007). Effectance and control as determinants of video game enjoyment. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 10(6), 845–847. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2007.9942 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Klimmt, C. , Hefner, D. , & Vorderer, P. (2009). The video game experience as “true” identification: A theory of enjoyable alterations of players’ self-perception. Communication Theory, 19(4), 351–373. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2885.2009.01347.x First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Klimmt, C. , Hefner, D. , Vorderer, P. , Roth, C. , Blake, C. (2010). Identification with video game characters as automatic shift of self-perceptions. Media Psychology, 13(4), 323–338. doi: 10.1080/15213269.2010.524911 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kline, R. B. (1998). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. New York: Guilford. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Leach, C. W. , Van Zomeren, M. , Zebel, S. , Vliek, M. L. W. , Pennekamp, S. F. , Doosje, B. , … Spears, R. (2008). Group-level self-definition and self-investment: A hierarchical (multi-component) model of in-group identification. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 144–165. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.95.1.144 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Leonardelli, G. J. , Brewer, M. B. (2001). Minority and majority discrimination: When and why. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 37, 468–485. doi: 10.1006/jesp.2001.1475 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Leonardelli, G. J. , Pickett, C. L. , Brewer, M. B. (2010). Optimal distinctiveness theory: A framework for social identity, social cognition and intergroup relations. In M. Zanna, J. Olson, (Eds.), Advances in experimental social psychology, 43, (pp. 65–115). New York: Elsevier doi: 10.1016/S0065-2601(10)43002-6 2010 First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Lickel, B. , Hamilton, D. L. , Wieczorkowska, G. , Lewis, A. , Sherman, S. J. , & Uhles, A. N. (2000). Varieties of groups and the perception of group entitativity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 223–246. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.78.2.223 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • McKenna, K. Y. A. , Bargh, J. A. (1998). Coming out in the age of the Internet: Identity “demarginalization” through virtual group participation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 681–694. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.75.3.681 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • McKenna, K. Y. A. , Bargh, J. A. (2000). Plan 9 from cyberspace: The implications of the Internet for personality and social psychology. Personality and Social Psychology Bullettin, 4, 57–75. doi: 10.1207/S15327957PSPR0401_6 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Mmodata . (2012). Mmodata: keeping track of the MMORPG scene. Retrieved from mmodata.blogspot.it/ First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Parks, M. R. , Roberts, L. D. (1998). “Making MOOsic”: The development of personal relationships on-line and a comparison to their off-line counterparts. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 15, 517–538. doi: 10.1177/0265407598154005 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Rubin, M. , & Hewstone, M. (1998). Social identity theory’s self-esteem hypothesis: A review and some suggestions for clarification. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2, 40–62. doi: 10.1207/s15327957pspr0201_3 First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Sheldon, P. (2009). “I’ll poke you. You’ll poke me!” Self-disclosure, social attraction, predictability and trust as important predictors of Facebook relationships. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 3(2), Article 1 First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Tabachnick, B. G. , Fidell, L. S. (2008). Using mutivariate statistics (5th ed.). Boston, MD: Pearson Education. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Tajfel, H. (1981). Human groups and social categories. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Tajfel, H. , & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin, S. Worchel, (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations. Monterey, CA: Brooks-Cole doi: 10.1007/s10979-007-9095-7 First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Taylor, T. L. (2006). Play between worlds: Exploring online game culture. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press doi: 10.1037/0893-3200.11.3.373 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Trepte, S. , Reinecke, L. , Juechems, K. (2012). The social side of gaming: How playing online computer games creates online and offline social support. Computers in Human Behavior, 28(3), 832–839. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2011.12.003 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Utz, S. (2003). Social identification and interpersonal attraction in MUDs. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 62(2), 91–101. doi: 10.1024/1421-0185.62.2.91 First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Van Looy, J. , Courtois, C. , De Vocht, M. , De Marez, L. (2012). Player identification in online games: Validation of a scale for measuring identification in MMOGs. Media Psychology, 15(2), 197–221. doi: 10.1080/15213269.2012.674917 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Vignoles, V. L. , Regalia, C. , Manzi, C. , Golledge, J. , Scabini, E. (2006). Beyond self-esteem: Influence of multiple motives on identity construction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(2), 308–333. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.90.2.308 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Vorderer, P. (2000). Interactive entertainment and beyond. In D. Zillmann, P. Vorderer, (Eds.), Media entertainment: The psychology of its appeal (pp. 21–36). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Williams, D. , Ducheneaut, N. , Xiong, L. , Zhang, Y. , Yee, N. , Nickell, E. (2006). From tree house to barracks: The social life of guilds in World of Warcraft. Games and Culture, 1, 338–361. doi: 10.1177/1555412006292616 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Yee, N. (2006). The psychology of MMORPGs: Emotional investment, motivations, relationship formation, and problematic usage. In R. Schroeder, A. Axelsson, (Eds.), Avatars at work and play: Collaboration and interaction in shared virtual environments (pp. 187–207). London: Springer. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar