Health

What is Second Life? Second Life (SL) is a 3D virtual world, referred to as a metaverse, created and “own” by the users. The physical appearance of most avatars and the nature of most activities are primarily based in real life.

Second Life (SL) is a 3D virtual world, referred to as a metaverse, created and “own” by the users.

The physical appearance of most avatars and the nature of most activities are primarily based in real life.

General Objective We want to know what imply to be engage in SL, why SL is meaningful for its users and how it impacts the user psychology.

We want to know what imply to

be engage in SL, why SL is

meaningful for its users

and how it impacts the user

psychology.

Methodology Material – Instrument Construction The survey is comprised of six distinct areas : Socio-Demography [1] Types of Activity [1] Real Trade Money [1] Psychological Engagement (behavioral engagement, perceptual engagement & emotional engagement ) Conflict Gambling The section of the instrument which measures emotional engagement was developed Based on criteria used in studies that measured gaming addiction (Kimberly, Young, 1998, Griffiths, M, 2000), as well as previous psychosocial analysis of video games by the author (see Appendix C). The items where modified, adjusted and classified in order to measure cognitions, feelings, and behavior which can precipitate from frequent participation in virtual communities. [1] Developed in collaboration with Pierre-Etienne . E-marketing researcher at the Toulouse Business School in France.

The survey is comprised of six distinct areas :

Socio-Demography [1]

Types of Activity [1]

Real Trade Money [1]

Psychological Engagement (behavioral engagement, perceptual engagement &

emotional engagement )

Conflict

Gambling

Modes or Components of Psychological Engagement Behavioral Engagement – Frequency, intensively (e.g. how much, how many times, for how long) Perceptual Engagement – Reaction to environmental stimuli (e.g. telepresences, trance state, emotional reaction to avatars) Emotional Engagement – Thoughts, emotions & conduct.

Behavioral Engagement – Frequency, intensively (e.g. how much, how many times, for how long)

Perceptual Engagement – Reaction to environmental stimuli (e.g. telepresences, trance state, emotional reaction to avatars)

Emotional Engagement – Thoughts, emotions & conduct.

Participants A total of 657 online SL users took part in a survey developed for the purpose of this research. 396 were male (60%) 261 were Female (40%)

A total of 657 online SL users took part

in a survey developed for the purpose

of this research.

396 were male (60%)

261 were Female (40%)

Data Collection Pilot test with beta subjects. Officially published the survey at http: slsurvey.wordpress.com , cut-off date for data reported in this paper was July 26, 2007. Data collection outside the virtual world and inside SL: Outside SL : Publications in various blogs Particularly those with SL themes Blogs relating to video games. In SL : Via strategic advertisement placement Mapping locations with large concentrations of people By soliciting participation in open high traffic areas through a public text communication. We implemented a verification of the participant’s IP address, yet we did not require
egistration/login, avatar nickname or any other personally identifiable information. [1] Data collection and part of statistical analysis was done in collaboration with Pierre-Etienne. E-marketing researcher at the Toulouse Business School in France.

Pilot test with beta subjects.

Officially published the survey at http: slsurvey.wordpress.com , cut-off date for data reported in this paper was July 26, 2007.

Data collection outside the virtual world and inside SL:

Outside SL :

Publications in various blogs

Particularly those with SL themes

Blogs relating to video games.

In SL :

Via strategic advertisement placement

Mapping locations with large concentrations of people

By soliciting participation in open high traffic areas through a public text communication.

Results Socio-Demographic N=657 Generally, participants are employed in professional positions and have some level of college education (college graduate, post-graduate work or degree, 55.4%). Most are new users (2 to 6 months 42.8% and 1 month or less 25.7%) A higher proportion of users have free accounts (64%) 59% have are between 25 and 44 years old. Only 1.1% are under 18 years old and 0.3% older than 65 years old Users state that SL is a place where they experience fun or excitement (52.5%), a world for building or creating (48.7), and establishing social contact (46.6%). Participants usually log in to SL alone

Generally, participants are employed in professional positions and have some level of college education (college graduate, post-graduate work or degree, 55.4%).

Most are new users (2 to 6 months 42.8% and 1 month or less 25.7%)

A higher proportion of users have free accounts (64%)

59% have are between 25 and 44 years old. Only 1.1% are under 18 years old and 0.3% older than 65 years old

Users state that SL is a place where they experience fun or excitement (52.5%), a world for building or creating (48.7), and establishing social contact (46.6%).

Participants usually log in to SL alone

Diversification of Online Activities N=657

They find them self spending more and more time in SL (often/always 26.9%, sometimes 46%) which may indicate a subjective perception or desire to participate increasingly in SL activities. Most SL user at some point feel “worried or excited about the events that have or will happened in SL” (often/always 23.6%, sometimes 41.4%) They feel restless if they cannot log in to SL” (always/often 20.2%, sometimes 33.6%). They use SL to forget from real life problems” (always/often 14%, sometimes 40.3%). They has been thinking about SL and losing focus in other RL activities (12% often/always, 37% sometimes) Predominant Emotional engagement indicators in the General User N=657

They find them self spending more and more time in SL (often/always 26.9%, sometimes 46%) which may indicate a subjective perception or desire to participate increasingly in SL activities.

Most SL user at some point feel “worried or excited about the events that have or will happened in SL” (often/always 23.6%, sometimes 41.4%)

They feel restless if they cannot log in to SL” (always/often 20.2%, sometimes 33.6%).

They use SL to forget from real life problems” (always/often 14%, sometimes 40.3%).

They has been thinking about SL and losing focus in other RL activities (12% often/always, 37% sometimes)

Engaged SL User Engage vs. Non engage User The total population was randomly sampled to level it to the less engaged or Non SL user group (margin of error of 5.4 ±) and both groups were compared performing Z test on each pair of resultant proportions ( n=304 each in each group) (99% confidence level) in each one of the independent variables. We report result base in the answers always/often and yes/no to the independent variables Non significan difference between both groups related with gender, age or age account. Engaged SL user – Those who responded ‘often or always’ to at least one of the emotional engagement measures.

The total population was randomly sampled to level it to the less engaged or Non SL user group (margin of error of 5.4 ±) and both groups were compared performing Z test on each pair of resultant proportions ( n=304 each in each group) (99% confidence level) in each one of the independent variables.

We report result base in the answers always/often and yes/no to the independent variables

Non significan difference between both groups related with gender, age or age account.

Engaged SL User (n=304) Type of Avatar Most in the engage group customize an avatar than look like their real self, but fewer than in the less engage group. Almost one third create an idealize avatar, which was more than in the less engage group. * Non significant difference between groups

Most in the engage group customize an avatar than look like their real self, but fewer than in the less engage group.

Almost one third create an idealize avatar, which was more than in the less engage group.

* Non significant difference between groups

Engaged SL User (n=304) **Non relevant difference between the both groups Answers report always/often

**Non relevant difference between the both groups

Answers report always/often

Engaged SL User (n=304) Real Trade Money

Engaged SL User (n=304) Behavioral engagement

Engaged SL User (n=304) Behavioral engagement

Engaged SL User (n=304) Behavioral engagement **Non significant difference between the both groups

Engaged SL User (n=304) Perceptual engagement “ When I am in SL I get so focused that I forget what is going on around me” “ In RL I’m good at blocking out external distractions when I’m involve in something (watch TV, read, etc)” – Non significant difference between the groups

Engaged SL User (n=304) RL vs. VL: *Conflicts * Always/often

Engaged SL User (n=304) RL vs. VL: Perception * Always/often

Gambling in SL Gamble vs. Non Gamble (n=657) Over 62.5% were between ages 25 to 44 years old, with only about 3.8% either under 18 or over 64 years old

Gambling in SL Gamble Only in SL (n=131)

Gambling in SL Gambling Preference (n=131)

Gambling in SL Stimulates Gambling (n=131)

Conclusion Virtual interaction in SL has considerable psychological implications for many users and they manifest their involvment through behaviours, thoughts and emotions. Engaged users show a greater degree of: - Behavioral engagement (e.g. frequency, time investment), - Significantly greater degree of sensing time loss b ut , fewer engaged user present immersion into trance states. More users tend to own virtual property and have invested more money in SL Present more frequent conflicts related to RL activities.

Virtual interaction in SL has considerable psychological implications for many users and they manifest their involvment through behaviours, thoughts and emotions.

Engaged users show a greater degree of:

- Behavioral engagement (e.g. frequency, time investment),

- Significantly greater degree of sensing time loss b ut , fewer engaged user present immersion into trance states.

More users tend to own virtual property and have invested more money in SL

Present more frequent conflicts related to RL activities.

Conclusion Fantasy gambling can provide an avenue for understanding real gambling behavior, and perhaps can be palliative for people who already present gambling, but in some cases can stimulate RL gambling. The psychosocial implications of practicing fantasy gambling, and the deep immersion into fantasy, are individual and multifactor. Actually we are in a phase in human time where the intensive use of the technology may be perceived as excessive, yet very well could be the normal lifestyle of tomorrow.

Fantasy gambling can provide an avenue for understanding real gambling behavior, and perhaps can be palliative for people who already present gambling, but in some cases can stimulate RL gambling.

The psychosocial implications of practicing fantasy gambling, and the deep immersion into fantasy, are individual and multifactor.

Actually we are in a phase in human time where the intensive use of the technology may be perceived as excessive, yet very well could be the normal lifestyle of tomorrow.

Virtual communities are a mirror of our idealized reality, limitless projections of ours dreams, where we can practice our utopian society. - Angelica, O, 2000 - Thank You! [email_address]