How to be a gamer! Exploring personal and social indicators of gamer identity. Issue 3 (6th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Grove, Frederik; Courtois, Cédric; Van Looy, Jan
• Is Part Of: Journal of computer-mediated communication. Volume 20:Issue 3(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 346
• Page End: 361
• Publication Date: 2015-02-06
• Subjects: Gaming -- Games -- Gamer -- Identity -- Social Networks -- Friendship -- Social Identity Theory; Telematics -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Communication -- Periodicals; 302.20285
• DOI: 10.1111/jcc4.12114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1083-6101

Abstract

Abstract: Over the past decades, digital games have continued to extend their audience as they moved into the cultural mainstream. Despite this fact, however, only a portion of those who play games consider themselves a gamer. Drawing on insights from social identity theory, this study explores the factors that contribute to why people attribute a gamer identity to self or others. It does so by considering 2 sites of identity construction: the social context of players and the broader cultural milieu. Results suggest that a gamer identity is first and foremost associated with stereotypical behaviors that find their origin in a consumption logic. Friendship networks, however, provide an important environment in which a gamer identity can be performed.