Constructing my online self: avatars that increase self-focused attention

Authors:
Asimina Vasalou;Adam N. Joinson;Jeremy Pitt
Affiliations:
Imperial College, London, United Kingdom;Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom;Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
Venue:
Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Year:
2007

Citing 2
Cited 11

Mediated Faces

CT '01 Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Cognitive Technology: Instruments of Mind
A self-awareness approach to computer-mediated communication

Computers in Human Behavior

Avatars in social media: Balancing accuracy, playfulness and embodied messages

International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
Me, myself and I: The role of interactional context on self-presentation through avatars

Computers in Human Behavior
Image, appearance and vanity in the use of media spaces and video conference systems

Proceedings of the ACM 2009 international conference on Supporting group work
Presenting identity in a virtual world through avatar appearances

Proceedings of Graphics Interface 2009
Examining knowledge contribution from the perspective of an online identity in blogging communities

Computers in Human Behavior
Investigating the intention to purchase digital items in social networking communities: A customer value perspective

Information and Management
Forms of interaction in virtual space: applications to psychotherapy and counselling

UAHCI'11 Proceedings of the 6th international conference on Universal access in human-computer interaction: applications and services - Volume Part IV
Does "Virtually being there" help? comparing collaborative work between 3D and 2D conditions

CRIWG'11 Proceedings of the 17th international conference on Collaboration and technology
Impact of similarity between avatar and their users on their perceived identifiability: Evidence from virtual teams in Second Life platform

Computers in Human Behavior
Deception in avatar-mediated virtual environment

Computers in Human Behavior
Choosing Buddy Icons that look like me or represent my personality: Using Buddy Icons for social presence

Computers in Human Behavior

Quantified Score

Hi-index	0.01

Visualization

Abstract

Three studies investigated whether users' strategies for customising online avatars increase their self-focused attention, also known as private self-awareness. Study 1 showed that a high number of users adapt their avatars toreflect their own appearance. Study 2 demonstrated that users who perceive their avatars to be similar to their own appearance experience as a result heightened private self-awareness. In Study 3, private self-awareness pervadedsocial interaction taking place over time when users with representative avatars, compared to a control group, reported increased private self-awareness. Drawing from research in interpersonal communication, we suggest that avatars which increase their owners' self-focus may have an influence on online behavior in the context of social computing.