Citation

Kastenmuller A, Greitemeyer T, Fairclough S, Waite D, Fischer P. Soc. Psychol. (Gott.) 2013; 44(4): 264-270.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Hogrefe and Huber Publishers)

DOI

10.1027/1864-9335/a000111

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Three studies were performed to investigate how identification with an exergame character increases motivation to perform physical activity and, in turn, actual physical activity. Study 1 showed that the extent to which players identified with their game character positively correlated with motivation to perform physical activity. Study 2 indicated that participants who were asked to write down similarities (high identification) compared with differences (low identification) between themselves and their exergame character strengthened their motivation to perform physical activity. Study 3 suggested that playing with a game character that looked similar to one's own appearance (vs. controls) was accompanied by increased motivation to perform physical activity and a higher level of actual physical activity 1 week later. The level of physical activity required by an exergame had no significant influence on our results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)

Language: en

Keywords

Avatars; Computer Games; Exercise; Motivation; Physical Activity; Social Identity; Sports