英文原文
Quest for the Ideal Self: Wishful Identification in Video Games - Try Evidence
In this text, we continue our Psychology Behind Designing Iconic Video Game Characters series—a deep dive into the psychological aspects of video game character design, drawing not only on theoretical insights but also on our own research findings from the “Gaming SenseTM 2023: Characters” study. Here, we focus specifically on wishful identification in video games. The differences between our real selves and our in-game characters can be a powerful force for good.
We’ll discover that players frequently design or choose characters that embody their ideal selves rather than their actual selves. And bridging the gap between one’s real self and ideal self can significantly enhance game enjoyment (for more details, see: Enhanced Identification and Its Benefits).
As mentioned before, in today’s discussion, we will tackle a different kind of identification that arises not from similarity but from aspiration: wishful identification. Defined as the “desire to be like or act like the character,” wishful identification represents players’ motivation to bridge the gap between themselves and the admired characters they encounter in video games.
This form of identification plays a crucial role in how players engage with and are inspired by their favorite game characters. It leads to a deeper connection and a more immersive gaming experience. Take, for instance, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo). In this game, players often see Link as an embodiment of courage and adventure. By identifying with Link, players can channel their own aspirations for heroism and exploration. These goals, which might seem unattainable in the real world, are brought to life in their gaming experience. This connection encourages them to immerse themselves fully in the game’s world, striving to overcome challenges and emulate Link’s bravery.
Wishful identification is crucial as it greatly influences players’ motivation to engage with your game(!). Through escapism, players seek positive emotions and a break from daily life. The second path involves using gaming to manage troubling thoughts and emotions. It provides temporary relief from real-life challenges (for more details, see: Motivation to Play).
The key is designing video game characters that align with players’ desires and ideals. This approach can greatly deepen their connection to the game and enhance their overall experience.
As previously discussed, the mirror hypothesis suggests that players create a sense of identity coherence. They achieve this by aligning their in-game personas with traits from their real-life selves. This desire for self-consistency helps maintain a stable self-concept.
However, not all differences between our actual selves and our in-game characters are unwelcome. This is where the magic mirror hypothesis comes into play.
Games offer us something impossible in the real world—the opportunity to gaze into a mirror and see an enhanced version of ourselves. In such a mirror we can see our aspects improved, such as height, weight, facial symmetry, assertiveness, strength, or fearlessness.
People naturally seek ways to feel better about themselves, often projecting an idealized version of themselves onto characters. This creates an “ego-ideal” within the gaming reality. This process of idealization can be so powerful that players may temporarily merge their actual selves with their ideal selves embodied by the character.
This enhanced version still aligns with our perception of ourselves but includes positive adjustments. It allows us to mitigate perceived flaws and experience a sense of fulfillment by embodying our aspirations.
Isn’t it a rewarding experience to become the person we aspire to be?
Self-esteem, encompassing beliefs about oneself and emotional states, plays a crucial role in our lives and influences how individuals interact with video game characters.
According to Higgins’ self-discrepancy theory, there are three basic domains of the self: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self.
The core of wishful identification lies in the discrepancy between the actual self and the ideal self.
This internal conflict between one’s self-concept and their ideal self creates emotional discomfort, or even a sense of threat, and is associated with low self-esteem.
When players perceive deficiencies in themselves, they may seek to compensate for these through virtual characters, defending against threats to their self-worth. Psychological compensation involves developing strengths or capabilities in one area to offset real or imagined deficiencies in another. This process can be conscious or, if unconscious, act as a defense mechanism, shielding individuals from acknowledging their shortcomings and protecting them from feelings of unworthiness, inferiority, or inadequacy. Individuals with low self-esteem may turn to gaming to fulfill their need for self-esteem by excelling in the virtual world. Through wishful identification in video games, players can elevate their self-view, ultimately helping them feel better about themselves.
Morcos et al. conducted research on World of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment) players to explore the dynamics of their user-avatar relationships. They found that choosing the Draenei race in World of Warcraft is significantly linked to elevated levels of psychological compensation. This tendency is particularly common among players who have faced challenging life circumstances. They may relate to the Draenei race, which is depicted as traumatized yet resilient people.
Van Looy et al. developed a scale for measuring player identification in massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), revealing that wishful identification is a significant motivator. It provides players with a way to compensate for self-esteem issues they may experience in real life. This motivation unfolds in two distinct but interconnected ways:
Firstly, through fantasy, or self-extension escapism, players are motivated to promote positive emotions while seeking a break from real life. This type of motivation is associated with an interest in an activity that nourishes one’s well-being. Players are drawn to adopting personas and characters that possess traits or abilities they admire or find intriguing. Wishful identification in the context of video games involves aspiring to emulate these characters, who represent idealized versions of themselves or embody qualities they aspire to possess. Whether it’s becoming a heroic warrior, a strategic mastermind, or a charismatic leader, video games provide a safe space to experiment with and fulfill these desires.
Secondly, through self-suppression escapism, players engage in gaming to prevent or suppress troublesome thoughts or emotions. This form of escapism allows players to temporarily escape their real-life challenges or perceived self-image. By exploring new identities and experiences that differ from their everyday realities, players can find distraction and relief. This allows them to focus on something beyond their current struggles or unaccepted traits.
Stepping into the shoes of a powerful or idealized character helps alleviate feelings of inadequacy, providing psychological relief and satisfaction.
In both routes, wishful identification enhances the gaming experience by allowing players to project themselves into roles that fulfill aspirational desires or provide a break from reality.
In the previous article, we discussed the potential benefits of similarity identification. These include increased engagement and enjoyment of the game, extended in-game time, a positive perception of the game community, enhanced loyalty, and more in-game purchases.
Notably, Bessiere et al. researched how players created and perceived their characters in World of Warcraft. Their findings revealed that players frequently design or select characters that embody their ideal selves rather than their actual selves. Bridging the gap between one’s actual self and ideal self can lead to greater identification with the character, affect enjoyment and reduce self-discrepancy.
This suggests that wishful identification enhances the benefits of similarity identification, amplifying player engagement and connection with the game.
When players see their ideal traits and aspirations embodied in their game characters, they experience a sense of alignment and satisfaction. This in consequence enhances their overall enjoyment of the game. This alignment creates a more immersive and fulfilling gaming experience, as players feel a stronger connection to their characters and the game world or even perform better in the game.
Reducing self-discrepancies can also lead to improved self-esteem and self-worth.
By achieving a closer match between their actual and ideal selves in the virtual world, players can temporarily alleviate feelings of inadequacy and boost their confidence.
This psychological benefit translates into greater overall enjoyment and a more positive attitude towards the game.
Furthermore, when players identify closely with their idealized characters, they are more likely to engage deeply with the game’s narrative and challenges. This deep engagement fosters a sense of accomplishment and personal growth as players navigate the game world and overcome obstacles. The positive reinforcement from these experiences contributes to a more enjoyable and rewarding gaming experience.
Customization plays a crucial role in enhancing wishful identification in video games. It allows players to personalize their characters to reflect their ideal self-image or desired identity.
Since each player’s ideal self is unique and may include a wide range of traits, offering extensive customization options is essential.
This means providing diverse choices in physical appearance, such as for example height, body type, and facial features, as well as personality traits and abilities like strength, intelligence, or charisma.
As numerous studies have indicated, e.g., Bessiere et al., players frequently opt for characters that embody their ideal selves rather than their actual identities. Moreover, a study by Taiwanese researchers (Liao et al.) on online gamers found that players are more likely to identify with characters who are perceived as physically attractive.
However, characters that are overly perfect can risk appearing intimidating or uninteresting. Striking a balance is key—they should be admirable yet human enough to make mistakes. The Pratfall Effect supports this idea by suggesting that when highly regarded individuals make mistakes, their likability can actually increase. This happens because their perceived superiority diminishes, making them seem more relatable and human.
Therefore, incorporating believable imperfections into characters can not only humanize them but also increase their appeal to players.
Enhancing wishful identification in video games involves crafting narratives and challenges that resonate with players’ aspirations. Thus enabling characters to embody qualities and achievements that players admire or aspire to attain. This approach not only enhances the gaming experience but also strengthens the emotional connection between players and their avatars.
For instance, a child might deeply connect with a brave and thoughtful school-aged character, like Max Caulfield from Life is Strange (Dontnod Entertainment). However, an adult may relate more to a character dealing with complex responsibilities such as Joel Miller from The Last of Us (Naughty Dog).
Furthermore, women and men may often identify with different character traits. Individuals from diverse social or interest groups may appreciate distinct qualities in characters as well. By tailoring character attributes to appeal to specific audiences, game developers can maximize the potential for wishful identification across a wider spectrum of players.
In September 2023, we initiated the “Gaming SenseTM 2023: Characters” study, surveying over a hundred mid-core and hard-core gamers from our playtester community to explore their preferences regarding game characters. One of the key inquiries in our study focused on players’ wishful identification with in-game characters, specifically asking: “To what extent would you like to resemble each of these characters in real life?” Based on the rankings from highest to lowest scores, the top three characters most frequently identified with were:
* Geralt of Rivia (The Witcher series, CD Project Red), * Commander Shepard (Mass Effect series, BioWare), * V (Cyberpunk 2077, CD Project Red),
With Lara Croft (Tomb Raider series, Core Design) and Nathan Drake (Uncharted series, Naughty Dog) hot on V’s heels.
Let’s take a closer look at these top 3 characters.
It’s intriguing that Geralt from The Witcher is seen as the most wishfully identified character, yet ranking third in terms of how similar gamers feel to him. This suggests that players admire traits in Geralt that they aspire to possess but currently do not. This blending of players’ actual and ideal selves is noteworthy and could potentially reduce the discrepancy between these two. It may also contribute to Geralt’s overall likability, as he emerged as the most favored video game character in our study.
This indicates that players derive satisfaction from embodying such a heroic figure and possibly identifying with Geralt impact players’ self-perception during gameplay. By aligning themselves with Geralt, players may adopt his attributes and view themselves as more courageous, heroic, and capable. Portrayed as a skilled and formidable warrior with unique abilities, Geralt resonates deeply with players. Especially with those, who seek to embody similar traits, both in-game and potentially in their own lives. This serves as a compelling escape and provides a platform for players to explore their aspirations through the persona of Geralt.
Commander Shepard from the Mass Effect series embodies the pinnacle of wishful identification in video game characters. Positioned between the depth of fully realized protagonists like Geralt and the customizable anonymity of others, Shepard’s appeal is significant. It lies in the player’s ability to shape them into a reflection of their own ideals and aspirations. Whether choosing Shepard’s origins, gender, and sexual orientation, or navigating moral dilemmas through paragon or renegade paths, players craft a persona that resonates with their personal values and desires.
Moreover, Shepard’s role as a charismatic leader and skilled warrior further enhances this identification, allowing players to experience the thrill of commanding loyalty and making consequential decisions that impact the fate of the galaxy. The depth of relationships Shepard forms with companions and the emotional weight of their journey underscore the intimate bond players develop with this complex, flawed, yet heroic character. Ultimately, Shepard represents the embodiment of player agency and personal narrative within a richly immersive universe, making their story in Mass Effect deeply personal for gamers.
It’s noteworthy that players ranked V as the third character they wishfully identify with but as the first one they similarly identify with. The discrepancy between wishful and similarity identification rankings suggests an interesting dynamic. Players aspire to embody certain qualities or traits through V. At the same time, they recognize and appreciate the character’s complexity and relatability based on their own experiences and choices. Much like Commander Shepard from Mass Effect, V embodies qualities that resonate deeply with players: resilience, adaptability, and the agency to carve out their own fate in a morally complex world.
It’s also important to note that in Cyberpunk 2077, the first-person perspective (FPP) limits players’ opportunities to view their character. This contrasts with The Witcher series and Mass Effect, where the third-person perspective (TPP) allows players to see their character at all times. The constant visibility of the character in TPP or the immersive experience of adopting the character’s viewpoint in FPP can significantly impact how players connect with and identify with them. However, the factors that influence identification are much more complex than simply choosing between perspectives. This complexity makes it difficult to determine which approach is more effective.
What sets V apart is not just the sheer depth of customization options, including appearance, cybernetic augmentations, personal history, and moral inclinations. It’s also the narrative freedom to shape V’s journey. Every decision, such as forging alliances with factions or confronting ethical dilemmas, leaves an indelible mark on V’s path and relationships. Whether players envision V as a ruthless mercenary climbing the ranks of Night City’s underworld or a charismatic hacker navigating the city’s socio-political web. Regardless of their vision, the game’s narrative depth and character development create a deeply personal and engaging experience.
* Wishful identification allows players to embody traits they admire through video game characters., * Players with low self-esteem use this process to boost their self-view and confidence., * Wishful identification motivates players by offering positive emotions and an escape from real-life challenges., * Aligning their real and ideal selves with game characters increases engagement, enjoyment, and emotional connection., * Customization options enable players to personalize characters, reflecting their ideal self-image and driving in-game purchases., * Characters should balance admirable traits with believable imperfections to enhance relatability and appeal., * Tailoring character attributes and narratives to specific audiences maximizes wishful identification across diverse player groups.,
These insights are part of an ongoing series exploring the psychology behind crafting memorable video game characters. Join us for more psychology knowledge that shapes our interactive adventures and could make your game stand out. Subscribe to our mailing list here. This comprehensive exploration discusses the nuanced concepts of projection, wishful identification, self-esteem, empathy, and the pivotal notion of a player’s agency. Whether a seasoned gamer or new to the digital realm, this series provides insight into the intricate psychology behind gaming experiences. It transcends the pixels on the screen, comprehensively exploring the subject.
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中文翻译
追求理想自我：电子游戏中的愿望认同
在本文中，我们继续“设计标志性电子游戏角色的心理学”系列——深入探讨电子游戏角色设计的心理层面，不仅借鉴理论见解，还结合我们“Gaming SenseTM 2023：角色”研究的研究结果。这里，我们特别关注电子游戏中的愿望认同。我们真实自我与游戏角色之间的差异可以成为一股强大的积极力量。
我们将发现，玩家经常设计或选择体现其理想自我而非真实自我的角色。弥合真实自我与理想自我之间的差距可以显著提升游戏乐趣（更多细节见：增强认同及其益处）。
如前所述，在今天的讨论中，我们将探讨一种不同的认同，它并非源于相似性，而是源于渴望：愿望认同。定义为“渴望像角色一样或像角色一样行动”，愿望认同代表了玩家弥合自己与在电子游戏中遇到的钦佩角色之间差距的动机。
这种认同形式在玩家如何参与并受其喜爱的游戏角色启发方面起着关键作用。它带来更深层的连接和更沉浸的游戏体验。以《塞尔达传说：荒野之息》（任天堂）为例。在这款游戏中，玩家通常将林克视为勇气和冒险的化身。通过认同林克，玩家可以引导自己对英雄主义和探索的渴望。这些在现实世界中可能看似无法实现的目标，在他们的游戏体验中得以实现。这种连接鼓励他们完全沉浸在游戏世界中，努力克服挑战并效仿林克的勇敢。
愿望认同至关重要，因为它极大地影响玩家参与游戏的动机。通过逃避现实，玩家寻求积极情绪和日常生活的休息。第二种途径涉及使用游戏来管理困扰的思想和情绪。它提供对现实生活挑战的暂时缓解（更多细节见：游戏动机）。
关键是设计符合玩家欲望和理想的电子游戏角色。这种方法可以极大地加深他们与游戏的连接并提升整体体验。
如前所述，镜子假说表明玩家创造了一种身份连贯感。他们通过将游戏内角色与真实自我特质对齐来实现这一点。这种对自我一致性的渴望有助于维持稳定的自我概念。
然而，并非所有真实自我与游戏角色之间的差异都是不受欢迎的。这就是魔镜假说发挥作用的地方。
游戏提供了一些在现实世界中不可能的东西——凝视镜子并看到增强版自我的机会。在这样的镜子中，我们可以看到自己的方面得到改善，例如身高、体重、面部对称性、自信、力量或无畏。
人们自然寻求让自己感觉更好的方式，经常将理想化的自我投射到角色上。这在游戏现实中创造了一个“自我理想”。这种理想化过程可能如此强大，以至于玩家可能暂时将真实自我与角色体现的理想自我融合。
这个增强版本仍然符合我们对自己的感知，但包括积极的调整。它允许我们减轻感知到的缺陷，并通过体现我们的渴望体验满足感。
成为我们渴望成为的人，这不是一种有益的体验吗？
自尊，包括对自己的信念和情绪状态，在我们的生活中起着关键作用，并影响个人如何与电子游戏角色互动。
根据希金斯的自我差异理论，自我有三个基本领域：真实自我、理想自我和应该自我。
愿望认同的核心在于真实自我与理想自我之间的差异。
这种自我概念与理想自我之间的内部冲突造成情绪不适，甚至威胁感，并与低自尊相关。
当玩家感知到自身的缺陷时，他们可能寻求通过虚拟角色来补偿这些缺陷，防御对自我价值的威胁。心理补偿涉及在一个领域发展优势或能力，以抵消另一个领域的真实或想象缺陷。这个过程可以是有意识的，或者如果无意识，则作为一种防御机制，保护个体免于承认自己的缺点，并保护他们免受无价值感、自卑感或不胜任感。低自尊的个体可能转向游戏，通过在虚拟世界中表现出色来满足自尊需求。通过电子游戏中的愿望认同，玩家可以提升自我观感，最终帮助他们感觉更好。
Morcos等人对《魔兽世界》（暴雪娱乐）玩家进行了研究，以探索他们用户-化身关系的动态。他们发现，在《魔兽世界》中选择德莱尼种族与心理补偿水平显著升高相关。这种倾向在面临挑战性生活环境的玩家中尤为常见。他们可能与德莱尼种族产生共鸣，该种族被描绘为受创伤但坚韧的人。
Van Looy等人开发了一个测量大型多人在线游戏（MMO）中玩家认同的量表，揭示愿望认同是一个重要的动机因素。它为玩家提供了一种补偿他们在现实生活中可能经历的自尊问题的方式。这种动机以两种不同但相互关联的方式展开：
首先，通过幻想或自我延伸逃避现实，玩家被激励促进积极情绪，同时寻求现实生活的休息。这种动机与对滋养个人福祉的活动兴趣相关。玩家被吸引采用具有他们钦佩或觉得有趣的特质或能力的角色和角色。电子游戏中的愿望认同涉及渴望效仿这些角色，这些角色代表理想化的自我或体现他们渴望拥有的品质。无论是成为英雄战士、战略大师还是魅力领袖，电子游戏提供了一个安全的空间来实验和满足这些欲望。
其次，通过自我抑制逃避现实，玩家参与游戏以防止或抑制困扰的思想或情绪。这种逃避现实形式允许玩家暂时逃避现实生活的挑战或感知到的自我形象。通过探索与日常现实不同的新身份和体验，玩家可以找到分心和缓解。这使他们能够专注于当前挣扎或不被接受特质之外的事物。
踏入强大或理想化角色的鞋子有助于缓解不胜任感，提供心理缓解和满足感。
在这两种途径中，愿望认同通过允许玩家将自己投射到满足渴望欲望或提供现实休息的角色中，增强了游戏体验。
在之前的文章中，我们讨论了相似认同的潜在益处。这些包括增加游戏参与度和乐趣、延长游戏内时间、对游戏社区的积极感知、增强忠诚度以及更多游戏内购买。
值得注意的是，Bessiere等人研究了玩家如何在《魔兽世界》中创建和感知他们的角色。他们的发现显示，玩家经常设计或选择体现其理想自我而非真实自我的角色。弥合真实自我与理想自我之间的差距可以导致对角色更大的认同，影响乐趣并减少自我差异。
这表明愿望认同增强了相似认同的益处，放大了玩家参与度和与游戏的连接。
当玩家看到他们的理想特质和渴望体现在游戏角色中时，他们体验到一种对齐感和满足感。这进而增强了他们对游戏的整体乐趣。这种对齐创造了更沉浸和充实的游戏体验，因为玩家感觉与角色和游戏世界有更强的连接，甚至在游戏中表现更好。
减少自我差异也可以导致自尊和自我价值的提升。
通过在虚拟世界中实现真实自我与理想自我更紧密的匹配，玩家可以暂时缓解不胜任感并提升信心。
这种心理益处转化为更大的整体乐趣和对游戏更积极的态度。
此外，当玩家与理想化角色紧密认同时，他们更可能深入参与游戏的叙事和挑战。这种深度参与培养了一种成就感和个人成长感，因为玩家在游戏世界中导航并克服障碍。这些体验的积极强化有助于更愉快和有益的游戏体验。
定制在增强电子游戏中的愿望认同方面起着关键作用。它允许玩家个性化他们的角色，以反映他们的理想自我形象或渴望的身份。
由于每个玩家的理想自我是独特的，可能包括广泛的特质，提供广泛的定制选项至关重要。
这意味着在身体外观上提供多样选择，例如身高、体型和面部特征，以及个性特质和能力，如力量、智力或魅力。
正如许多研究表明的，例如Bessiere等人，玩家经常选择体现其理想自我而非真实身份的角色。此外，台湾研究人员（Liao等人）对在线游戏玩家的研究发现，玩家更可能认同被感知为身体有吸引力的角色。
然而，过于完美的角色可能显得令人生畏或无趣。关键在于平衡——他们应该令人钦佩，但又足够人性化以犯错。出丑效应支持这一观点，表明当高度受尊敬的个体犯错时，他们的可爱度实际上可能增加。这是因为他们感知到的优越性减弱，使他们显得更可亲和人化。
因此，将可信的缺陷融入角色不仅可以人性化他们，还可以增加对玩家的吸引力。
增强电子游戏中的愿望认同涉及制作与玩家渴望产生共鸣的叙事和挑战。从而使角色体现玩家钦佩或渴望获得的品质和成就。这种方法不仅增强了游戏体验，还加强了玩家与其化身之间的情感连接。
例如，一个孩子可能深深连接一个勇敢且深思的学龄角色，如《奇异人生》（Dontnod Entertainment）中的Max Caulfield。然而，一个成年人可能更与处理复杂责任的角色产生共鸣，如《最后生还者》（Naughty Dog）中的Joel Miller。
此外，女性和男性可能经常认同不同的角色特质。来自不同社会或兴趣群体的个体也可能欣赏角色中的独特品质。通过定制角色属性以吸引特定受众，游戏开发者可以最大化愿望认同在更广泛玩家群体中的潜力。
2023年9月，我们启动了“Gaming SenseTM 2023：角色”研究，调查了我们测试者社区中一百多名中核和硬核玩家，以探索他们对游戏角色的偏好。我们研究中的一个关键询问聚焦于玩家对游戏内角色的愿望认同，具体询问：“你希望在现实生活中在多大程度上像这些角色中的每一个？”根据从最高到最低分数的排名，最常被认同的前三个角色是：
* 利维亚的杰洛特（《巫师》系列，CD Project Red），* 指挥官薛帕德（《质量效应》系列，BioWare），* V（《赛博朋克2077》，CD Project Red），
劳拉·克劳馥（《古墓丽影》系列，Core Design）和内森·德雷克（《神秘海域》系列，Naughty Dog）紧随V之后。
让我们更仔细地看看这三个顶级角色。
有趣的是，《巫师》中的杰洛特被视为最愿望认同的角色，但在玩家感觉与他相似程度上排名第三。这表明玩家钦佩杰洛特的特质，他们渴望拥有但目前没有。这种玩家真实自我与理想自我的融合值得注意，并可能减少这两者之间的差异。它也可能有助于杰洛特的整体可爱度，因为他在我们的研究中成为最受欢迎的视频游戏角色。
这表明玩家从体现这样一个英雄人物中获得满足感，并且认同杰洛特可能影响玩家在游戏过程中的自我感知。通过将自己与杰洛特对齐，玩家可能采用他的属性，并视自己为更勇敢、更英雄、更有能力。被描绘为具有独特能力的熟练且强大的战士，杰洛特与玩家产生深刻共鸣。特别是那些寻求在游戏中和潜在生活中体现类似特质的玩家。这作为一种引人入胜的逃避现实，并为玩家提供了一个通过杰洛特角色探索渴望的平台。
《质量效应》系列中的指挥官薛帕德体现了电子游戏角色中愿望认同的顶峰。位于像杰洛特这样完全实现的主角深度与其他可定制匿名角色之间，薛帕德的吸引力是显著的。它在于玩家将其塑造成自己理想和渴望反映的能力。无论是选择薛帕德的起源、性别和性取向，还是通过楷模或叛逆路径导航道德困境，玩家都塑造了一个与个人价值观和欲望产生共鸣的角色。
此外，薛帕德作为魅力领袖和熟练战士的角色进一步增强了这种认同，允许玩家体验指挥忠诚和做出影响银河系命运的重大决策的刺激。薛帕德与同伴形成的关系深度及其旅程的情感重量强调了玩家与这个复杂、有缺陷但英雄角色发展的亲密纽带。最终，薛帕德代表了在丰富沉浸宇宙中玩家能动性和个人叙事的体现，使他们在《质量效应》中的故事对玩家来说非常个人化。
值得注意的是，玩家将V评为他们愿望认同的第三角色，但作为他们相似认同的第一角色。愿望认同与相似认同排名之间的差异表明了一种有趣的动态。玩家渴望通过V体现某些品质或特质。同时，他们基于自己的体验和选择，认可并欣赏角色的复杂性和可亲性。就像《质量效应》中的指挥官薛帕德一样，V体现了与玩家产生深刻共鸣的品质：韧性、适应性和在道德复杂世界中塑造自己命运的能动性。
同样重要的是要注意，在《赛博朋克2077》中，第一人称视角（FPP）限制了玩家查看角色的机会。这与《巫师》系列和《质量效应》形成对比，其中第三人称视角（TPP）允许玩家始终看到角色。TPP中角色的持续可见性或FPP中采用角色视角的沉浸体验可以显著影响玩家如何连接和认同他们。然而，影响认同的因素远比简单选择视角复杂。这种复杂性使得难以确定哪种方法更有效。
V的独特之处不仅在于定制选项的深度，包括外观、赛博增强、个人历史和道德倾向。还在于塑造V旅程的叙事自由。每一个决定，例如与派系结盟或面对道德困境，都在V的路径和关系上留下不可磨灭的印记。无论玩家将V设想为在夜城黑社会中攀升的无情佣兵，还是导航城市社会政治网络的魅力黑客。无论他们的愿景如何，游戏的叙事深度和角色发展创造了一种非常个人化和引人入胜的体验。
* 愿望认同允许玩家通过电子游戏角色体现他们钦佩的特质。* 低自尊玩家使用这个过程来提升自我观感和信心。* 愿望认同通过提供积极情绪和逃避现实生活挑战来激励玩家。* 将真实自我和理想自我与游戏角色对齐增加参与度、乐趣和情感连接。* 定制选项使玩家能够个性化角色，反映理想自我形象并推动游戏内购买。* 角色应平衡令人钦佩的特质与可信的缺陷，以增强可亲性和吸引力。* 为特定受众定制角色属性和叙事最大化愿望认同在多样化玩家群体中的潜力。
这些见解是探索制作难忘电子游戏角色背后心理学的持续系列的一部分。加入我们，获取更多塑造我们互动冒险并可能使你的游戏脱颖而出的心理学知识。在此订阅我们的邮件列表。这种全面探索讨论了投射、愿望认同、自尊、同理心以及玩家能动性关键概念的细微差别。无论是经验丰富的玩家还是数字领域的新手，这个系列都提供了对游戏体验背后复杂心理学的洞察。它超越了屏幕上的像素，全面探索了这个主题。
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文章概要
本文基于“Gaming SenseTM 2023：角色”研究，深入探讨电子游戏中的愿望认同现象。文章指出，玩家倾向于选择或设计体现理想自我而非真实自我的游戏角色，这种愿望认同通过弥合真实自我与理想自我之间的差距，显著提升游戏乐趣和沉浸感。研究引用希金斯的自我差异理论，解释愿望认同源于自我差异，并关联低自尊和心理补偿机制。文章分析两种逃避现实路径——自我延伸和自我抑制，强调愿望认同如何增强玩家动机和游戏体验。此外，文章探讨角色定制、平衡完美与缺陷、以及针对不同受众定制角色属性等策略，以最大化愿望认同效果。最后，文章以《巫师》的杰洛特、《质量效应》的薛帕德和《赛博朋克2077》的V为例，说明愿望认同在具体游戏角色中的应用和影响。
高德明老师的评价
TA沟通分析评价：从TA沟通分析视角看，这篇文章精彩地展示了玩家在游戏角色选择中如何运用“儿童自我状态”表达渴望和理想，同时通过“成人自我状态”理性地定制角色以实现自我提升。玩家将内在的“父母自我状态”对完美的追求投射到角色上，这种动态平衡体现了自我状态的和谐互动。文章赞美了玩家通过游戏角色探索自我潜能的智慧，这种探索不仅增强了游戏乐趣，还促进了自我认知的成长，展现了人类心理的灵活性和创造力。
焦点解决心理学评价：从焦点解决心理学角度，这篇文章强调了玩家如何利用愿望认同聚焦于“理想自我”的目标，而非纠结于“真实自我”的不足。玩家通过游戏角色构建解决方案，将注意力转向未来可能性和积极情绪，这体现了焦点解决的核心原则。文章赞美了玩家主动寻求积极改变和情感满足的能力，这种以目标为导向的探索不仅提升了游戏体验，还强化了个人心理韧性，为现实生活中的自我发展提供了宝贵资源。
佛学专家角色评价：从佛学视角，这篇文章揭示了玩家在游戏中对“我执”的超越尝试，通过愿望认同暂时放下对“真实自我”的执着，体验“无我”或“理想自我”的境界。这种过程类似于修行中的观想，帮助玩家减轻自我差异带来的痛苦，提升心理平和。文章赞美了玩家在虚拟世界中探索自我本质的勇气，这种探索不仅带来游戏乐趣，还暗含了减少烦恼、增进智慧的潜力，体现了人类对内在平静的不懈追求。