Personality, presence, and the virtual self: A five-factor model approach to behavioral analysis within a virtual environment

...................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... vi CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 1 Research Problem Description ........................................................................................ 4 Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 7 Measures ......................................................................................................................... 8 Variables ......................................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER TWO REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ................................... 12 The Birth of a Discipline............................................................................................... 12 Human Behavior Reconceptualized .............................................................................. 15 The Emergence of a Trait Model .................................................................................. 20 The Situated Nature of Personality ............................................................................... 24 Describing Personality: A Question of Context............................................................ 27 Predicting Behavior: Structure and Application of the Five-Factor Model .................. 29 Networked Systems and the Rise of Virtual Environments.......................................... 31 The Virtual Self: Multiplicity or Singularity of Being ................................................. 40 Digital Embodiment ...................................................................................................... 41 Presence of Being ......................................................................................................... 45 CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY .................................................................... 48 Predicted Outcomes ...................................................................................................... 49 Environmental Description ........................................................................................... 52 Avatar Overview ........................................................................................................... 52 Participants .................................................................................................................... 53 Design and Procedures .................................................................................................. 54 Measures ....................................................................................................................... 55 Variables ....................................................................................................................... 58 Analysis......................................................................................................................... 60 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 62 CHAPTER FOUR DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS ........................................ 63 Technology Usage ........................................................................................................ 63 General Participant Personality Profile ......................................................................... 63 Female Participant Personality Profile.......................................................................... 64 Male Participant Personality Profile ............................................................................. 65 Normality ...................................................................................................................... 66 Research Question Two ................................................................................................ 68 Research Question Three .............................................................................................. 70 Summary of Results ...................................................................................................... 71