For this assignment I created an account and explored a whole new world in Second Life. Second Life is a multi-player virtual world in which users can explore, socialize and interact with each other through an avatar that can be customized and modified to one’s own liking. My experience in Second Life begun with me picking a username and a tutorial, in which I learned how to change my appearance, interact with others, utilize the map function and manage my objects. Since most others were figuring things out just as I was, I didn’t have many interactions with others. However, I did change my appearance in hopes of observing interesting reactions from others. I decided upon making “Haley Rieko” extremely unlucky in the gene department. She was much too overweight and short with distorted facial features in tow. Soon after editing my avatar, I was able to teleport from “Orientation Island” into a new exploratory welcome island where individuals were much more social and there were many interactions going on.
In this new environment many individuals were interacting with one another. I was in a small area with about twenty other avatars and there were multiple conversations I could “overhear” through the chat function. I attempted to approach a few different males by gesturing “Hey!” yet they ignored my attempted conversations. Therefore, I spent a great deal of time observing others interactions. At one point, there were two attractive, leggy females dancing with each other as others watched on. As soon as they ceased their seductive grinding, many attractive males approached them and began conversations in which they self-disclosed. “Haley Rieko”, on the other hand, had no such luck. The only individual I ended up conversing with was a frightening looking human who resembled a black cat. We briefly discussed the other interactions going on and our experiences with Second Life. For the most part I found myself afraid to approach others because I was unattractive and could not get a consistent response. Sadly, “Haley Rieko” kept mostly to herself and away from the more rowdy individuals in the “welcome island”.
My Second Life experience closely matched what Yee & Bailenson describe as the Proteus Effect. The Proteus Effect states that users in an online environment will conform to the stereotypes of their avatar’s appearance. After interacting in Second Life for an hour, it was blatantly obvious to me that one’s avatar is his or her “entire self representation” and had a significant impact on one’s behavior. Since “Haley” was significantly shorter, more unattractive and overweight than the social norm (others surrounding her), I subconsciously had her behave in a more insecure, shy manner. Other users kept their distance from me and engaged in less self-disclosure probably because they felt uncomfortable interacting with me. On the other hand, those individuals who were dancing provocatively in front of others were much more attractive, and therefore probably more confident with their actions.
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5 comments:
Your experience and analysis is very interesting. You were able to experience the Proteus Effect in the perspective of the less attractive avatars. As predicted by Yee & Bailenson, the avatar's attractiveness or in your case, the lack of, influenced the behavior of the user. It is also interesting that the behavior of the other avatar's also influenced the way you perceived yourself. Because they left you out of the conversations, you felt as if you were not wanted and even more unwilling to self-disclose. Overall, your experience is very unique and very enjoyable.
Hey Kristina,
May I first say that I am saddened by the fact that your character did not get the attention it deserved. It’s sad to see that even in a game people who look different aren’t respected enough. Your ugly character’s experience did, however, link very well to what we are learning about in class. Specifically, I found it very interesting that you began to act more insecure and shy because of the avatar you were using. This was a perfect example of Yee and Bailenson’s Proteus Effect. I did find it very interesting, also, that the only person that would converse with you was the “frightened looking human who resembled a black cat”. It seems as if, even in a virtual game, outsiders still sometimes join together in a common bond. Great post!
-Ian
Very interesting post, and a great analysis in line with Yee’s findings. While I can’t say I’m surprised by the results of your brave Second Life endeavor, I did have a few thoughts. I first wondered why, of all people, the cat-person found you an attractive avatar with whom to strike up conversation. Do you think that, as both of you are so-called “outcasts,” it is only natural for you to find one another? That you two might understand each other better than the others? And further, if we have control over how we look, why is it that players would purposefully choose unattractive avatars (unless, of course, they were doing the same type of experiment you were!)?
I also wondered whether or not you knew from the outset that you wouldn’t be received the same way other avatars would be. Was your behavior really subconscious? Or a subsequent withdrawal after being treated so harshly by your fellow avatars? Either way, the phenomenon definitely rings true both theoretically and in real (Second) life.
Interesting post about Second Life. What seems impressive to me is that this Proteus effect can work in this environment so well (as according to your experiences) despite the fact that the ability to change one's appearance in Second Life is ridiculously easy (unless that feature is locked after the starter island, in which case I have no point, heh).
It seems weird that people would treat a player explicitly according to the player's avatar when everyone knows that the avatar can be made to look like anything. In what sense does knowledge of this effect how people play the game?
Cool post overall.
Hi Kristina,
This is a great post, and shows precisely the toll the Proteus effect can have on an individual playing an MMORPG. I'm glad you were able to get over the initial instructions of the game in time to be able to socialize with others (or not socialize, as the case may be). I had much difficulty with this playing EverQuest - Sony made it REALLY complicated playing the first hour, I suppose to keep its longtime players amused, or in an elite class of people who actually know how to use the damn thing. Anyway I found it interesting that you chose an overweight character in SecondLife, and that your actions soon reflected those of someone who could be overweight in real life: shy, self-conscious, aware of rejection...How many people, I wonder would actually use an avatar with such an appearance? How many avatars chosen on this game by its players perfectly mirror their physique in real life? I'm sure it would be easy for anyone to choose the leggy blonde because she was prettier, rather than an animal that's known as the bringer of bad luck.
-Kristina
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