Avatars and How They Effect People in Reality

An avatar has a huge impact on how a person interacts in reality. They tend to, in some instances, try to remain in character when around their friends in person. Some others try to be a different person as their avatar. Avatars in most cases are an escape for some. Some people use it as a means to try on different personalities. They speak to and treat people in different manners as their avatar to see if they will be more accepted or if this new attitude will be more beneficial to them. For some people, an avatar helps with their social anxieties.
World of Warcraft is a web based game that has their subscribers take on a certain avatar to portray and play with. They can either be a dwarf, an elf, a warlock, or priest; all having their own qualities and traits. When people use avatars together as groups, such as in gaming groups like WoW, then more often then not the people in the avatar groups act the same way in reality. The individuals that are in charge of the groups in the game more often consider themselves in charge in their personal lives. Vise versa, the followers are normally the followers in reality. If anybody challenges the hierarchy or change their status in the group it will most often have consequences in their interpersonal group outside of the avatar realm.
A lot of friendships can be tested by how well someone can transition from their avatar to real life. Studies such as were done by HomeNet and a survey by Nie &Erbring concluded that “internet use led to negative outcomes for the individual user, such as increases in depression and loneliness, and neglect of existing close relationships” (Bargh & McKenna, 2004). On the other side, using an avatar gives somebody confidence as well. People want to love and be loved, gain meaningful relationships with others, and possibly contribute to the community (Bugeja, 2005). Having an avatar satisfies many by giving them a chance to socialize with people they can relate to without the fear of humiliation.