Date of Award
2016
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
A Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game (MMORPG) is an immersive game that combines social aspects which allow gamers to meet and form relationships with other players in order to complete in-game objectives. Current theories of motivation for playing these games focus on three primary components: Achievement, Social, and Immersion (Yee, 2012). The present study suggested that Self-Expansion theory may enhance our understanding as to why people play games, especially social games such as MMORPGs. Self-Expansion theory argues that people are innately driven to expand their sense of self by establishing close relationships, increasing personal resources, collecting meaningful items, and seeking cognitive stimulation (Mashek, Aron, & Boncimino, 2003; Burris, Rempel, Munteanu, & Terrien, 2013). Games effectively provide opportunities for gamers to utilize various strategies to expand their self-concepts, make social connections, and increase self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of various measures of self-expansion as explanations for the proximate motives for playing these games. A survey measuring self-expansion, need for cognition, and avatar identification, along with measures of traditional motives for play was completed by (N = 282) participants (MMORPG and First-Person Shooter gamers). As predicted, self-expansion was highly correlated with these measures. A principal components analysis yielded evidence of a self-expansion motive. This was further supported by analyses of passion for play. Further, self-expansion measures were positively correlated with identification with their avatar. However, analyses of gaming behavior did not reveal a straightforward relationship between self-expansion and length of play and choice of game. Unexpectedly, principal components analysis revealed a second motivation among gamers, which was labeled domination because of its clear relation to achievement, competition and control of others. Future research should include motive manipulations to examine the causal role of self-expansion motivations in online gaming.
Recommended Citation
Lowe, Mark, "Self-Expansion As A Motivation For Playing Mmorpgs" (2016). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1709.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/1709