As I progress with my project, the focus is becoming sharper. My research question—how immersive digital technologies like VR, avatars, and online gaming contribute to the dissolution of personal identity—is now taking a more defined direction.
Initially, I was exploring the broader concepts of identity and technology from a philosophical and psychological angle. However, after refining my approach, I’ve shifted to focus more specifically on how gaming platforms and virtual environments play a central role in constructing and shaping digital identities. These spaces are not merely tools for entertainment; they’re environments where users engage in creating and evolving their virtual selves, often with much more depth than in traditional social media.
I plan to analyze how these spaces facilitate the creation of avatars, and the psychological effects of spending significant time in these immersive worlds.
The structure of my project is now fully outlined, with six chapters that explore the various ways in which technology and virtual environments shape identity. I’m particularly excited to explore topics like digital identity construction and virtual embodiment within the context of gaming.
These chapters will examine how people build and perform their online personas and how the immersive nature of new technology can cause the boundaries between physical and virtual identity to blur.
In the coming weeks, I’ll focus on gathering academic sources and psychological theories related to immersion and identity formation. My goal is to explore how avatar customization impacts the way players perceive and connect with their digital selves, ultimately leading to a shift in identity.