Comments on: The Proteus Effect: How Our Avatar Changes Online Behavior

By: Avatar | Metalifestream

Avatar | Metalifestream — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:39:02 +0000

[...] how prepared are you to say it is you? Some part of you? Before you answer, consider the following study by Stanford researchers Yee and Bailenson, showing the effect of an altered self-representation on [...]

By: interactions magazine | Making Face: Practices and Interpretations of Avatars in Everyday Media

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:43:59 +0000

[...] Grohol Psyd, J. “The Proteus Effect: How Our Avatar Changes Online Behavior.” http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/11/24/the-proteus-effect-how-our-avatar-changes-online-be... [...]

By: LCpl Russell

LCpl Russell — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:26:23 +0000

I would contend that even if a person were to change aspects in a avatar that is different than their own, such as height, attractiveness, etc. that their “core” would still filter through the persona. A person would be more confident, but they would still have many of the same ideals as they held beforehand. It’s akin to how a person, who on medication, changes many of the traits of their personality–but does not change their beliefs (although,note it will make an impact).

Yet I enjoy the fact that it gives us a small glimpse of how much a objects look can completely change the context of the subject in question.

By: Miki

Miki — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:43:21 +0000

Hi everyone. I suffer from social anxiety and agoraphobia. About a year ago I entered Second Life. I spent much effort building an avatar which is tall, dark and handsome, wears the best clothes and is generally considered very good looking. In real life I look nothing like him (smile)

At this point I have a “life” which is so much more than I could ever have thought possible. I interact with other avatars readily, am popular, gregarious and even, married online.

As far as real life situations, I find it easier to interact with people in general, now I am not as afraid to ask for help in a store, for example, or approach a stranger and make conversation. I feel that the avatar has given me confidence, and, I am a happier better adjusted person.

By: The Watch – virtual worlds in the news : The Metaverse Journal – Virtual World News

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:00:09 +0000

[...] PsychCentral (USA) – The Proteus Effect: How Our Avatar Changes Online Behavior. “The other day, a commenter asked whether people “truly represent themselves for who they [...]

By: saki

saki — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:45:55 +0000

Wow, this is really interesting thing to think about.
How does this apply to real life?

By: James

James — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:08:08 +0000

Absolutely fascinating, thank you.

I only have the guts to reply because I’m imagining myself as over six foot

But seriously though, this really is interesting, thanks.

By: paljor

paljor — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:52:02 +0000

there seems to be a general appreciation about the kind of defragmentisation which the digital virtual world appears to have opened a window outside the physical world of ones own self perception,and perhaps also a consens that in consequence the ability to handle the incongruity between each personality metaphor may well be dependent on how the basic structures of an exisiting social network can support each activity, without creating an imbalance in the manner in which each can effeciently operate independently on an emotional level and thus remain stable.This also has fundamentally to do with the neccessity to redefine the work area and its value relative to modern urban pressures and the perception of immaterial and material success orientated life models.

By: Summer Beretsky

Summer Beretsky — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:09:02 +0000

If that’s true, then I wonder what having an attractive/tall avatar does for someone with social anxiety. If it’s easier for someone with social anxiety to communicate via computer than it is for them to communicate with peers IRL, then it seems likely that they’d potentially opt for the more attractive / taller avatar in order to boost their…confidence? Their immediacy to others?

Okay, time to pull out all of my old Walther / Caplan & High stuff.