Korean Journal of Cognitive Science (인지과학)

The Korean Society for Cognitive Science (한국인지과학회)
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The Effects of Adolescents' Online Game Character Status Comparison on their Subjective Happiness Change

청소년의 온라인 게임 캐릭터 지위 비교가 주관적 행복 변화에 미치는 효과

  • Lee, Guk-Hee (Division of General Studies, Kyonggi University)
  • Received : 2021.06.22
  • Accepted : 2021.06.22
  • Published : 2021.06.30
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to confirm whether adolescents with a tendency to compare online game positions are unhappier than their peers who do not. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to compare the status of their game character with the game world average (below, equal, or above average), and were then measured on their changes in happiness (changes before and after the participant's status comparison). In Experiment 2, participants compared the status of their game character with a person they knew (whether it was lower or higher than their acquaintance), and were then measured on their subjective changes in happiness. In Experiment 3, participants were told that the status of their game character was lower/higher than the average, and were either presented or not presented with the information that their acquaintance's character held a lower/higher position. The subjective happiness level of the two groups was then measured. As a result, Experiment 1 confirmed that adolescents with generally low subjective happiness were unhappier when their game position was lower than the average and were happier when their game position was higher than the average. However, it was found that the happiness level of adolescents with generally high subjective happiness did not significantly change. Experiment 2 observed that adolescents with generally low subjective happiness were unhappier when their game position was lower than others in the game world and were happier when their game position was higher than others. However, this was not true for adolescents with generally high subjective happiness. Experiment 3 showed that adolescents with generally low subjective happiness were unhappier when someone else had a higher game position than themselves and were happier when someone else had a lower game position than themselves, regardless of their status in either situation. However, a significant change was not detected among adolescents with generally high subjective happiness. As a rare study confirming the effects of social status comparison on happiness in the virtual world, this study is noteworthy.

본 연구는 온라인 게임에서 형성된 지위를 비교하는 성향의 청소년들이 그렇지 않은 청소년들보다 평상시에 더 불행한지 확인하려는 목적으로 이루어졌다. 이를 위한 실험 1은 자신이 조종하는 게임 캐릭터의 지위를 게임 세계 평균과 비교하게 한 후(평균보다 낮은지, 같은지, 높은지), 주관적 행복 변화를 측정하였다(지위를 비교하는 상황이 있기 전과 후의 변화). 실험 2는 자신이 조종하는 게임 캐릭터의 지위를 아는 사람의 지위와 비교하게 한 후(지인보다 낮은지, 높은지), 주관적 행복 변화를 측정하였다. 실험 3은 자신이 조종하는 게임 캐릭터의 지위가 평균보다 낮다고 제시한 후, 아는 사람은 더 낮다는 추가 정보를 제시하는 집단과 제시하지 않는 집단으로 구분하여 주관적 행복 변화를 측정하였다. 또한 실험 3은 자신이 조종하는 게임 캐릭터의 지위가 평균보다 높다고 제시한 후, 아는 사람은 더 높다는 추가 정보를 제시하는 조건과 그렇지 않은 조건을 구분한 후 주관적 행복 변화를 측정하였다. 결과적으로 실험 1은 평소 주관적 행복이 낮은 청소년은 게임 세계에서의 지위가 평균보다 낮을 때 불행해지고, 높을 때 행복해지지만, 평소 주관적 행복이 높은 청소년은 행복 수준에 큰 변화가 없음을 확인하였다. 실험 2는 평소 주관적 행복이 낮은 청소년은 게임 세계에서 타인보다 지위가 낮을 때 불행해지고, 높을 때 행복해지지만, 평소 주관적 행복이 높은 청소년은 그렇지 않음을 관찰하였다. 실험 3은 평소 주관적 행복이 낮은 청소년은 게임 세계 평균보다 지위가 높더라도 자신보다 더 높은 사람이 있으면 불행해지고, 게임 세계 평균보다 지위가 낮더라도 자신보다 더 낮은 사람이 있으면 행복해지지만, 주관적 행복이 높은 청소년은 큰 변화가 없음을 확인하였다. 본 연구는 가상 세계에서의 사회비교가 행복에 미치는 영향을 확인한 드문 연구로서 중요하다.

Keywords

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