{"id":16081,"date":"2024-12-30T12:00:58","date_gmt":"2024-12-30T10:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/?p=16081"},"modified":"2025-01-21T11:24:15","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T09:24:15","slug":"are-you-playing-the-characters-or-are-they-playing-you-the-power-of-role-playing-in-shaping-identity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/are-you-playing-the-characters-or-are-they-playing-you-the-power-of-role-playing-in-shaping-identity\/","title":{"rendered":"Are you playing the characters, or are they playing you? \u2014 The power of role-playing in shaping identity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Role-playing games (RPGs) have long been enjoyed by players worldwide as they allow players to immerse themselves in the fictional world, but what would happen if the boundaries between players and characters blurred? Kjell Hedgard Hugaas\u2019 research, published in the International Journal of Role-Playing (Issue 14), analyzes this fascinating phenomenon, often referred to as \u201cbleed.\u201d This research not only introduces a structured conceptual model for bleed but also explores how such interactions can transform a player\u2019s sense of self and identity. <\/span><\/p>\n

So, what is bleed? <\/span>At its simplest, bleed is the two-way street between a player and their character. <\/span>Bleed-in<\/span><\/i> happens when the player\u2019s traits, emotions, or ideas seep into their character. <\/span>Bleed-out<\/span><\/i> is the reverse\u2014when the character influences the player. For example, imagine playing a bold, heroic character and feeling more confident in real life; or, playing someone more reserved, which might make you second-guess yourself in the real world.<\/span> Key types of bleed include emotional bleed (feelings crossing between player and character), memetic bleed (transfer of ideas and beliefs), and procedural bleed (physical and motor skills influence). <\/span>When these bleed types overlap, they create experiences that can significantly affect a player\u2019s identity\u2014what Hugaas calls \u201cidentity bleed,\u201d where the player\u2019s sense of self starts to shift because of their role-playing experience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Central to Hugaas\u2019s model is the idea of the \u201cBleed Perception Threshold.\u201d <\/span>This is the point at which a player becomes aware of bleed\u2014some players notice it all the time, while others claim it\u2019s never happened to them.<\/span> Hugaas suggests that the threshold varies from person to person, influenced by factors such as emotional intensity, game design, and personal disposition. E<\/span>ven if players aren\u2019t consciously aware of it, bleed can still subtly influence their persona. It\u2019s like having an invisible hand guiding your identity, without you even realizing it.<\/span> And here\u2019s where it gets really interesting: RPGs aren\u2019t just about exploring fantasy worlds; they give players the freedom to experiment with aspects of their real-world identity. Want to test out a different personality or try on a completely different life situation? RPGs can provide the space to do just that. And over the time, players learn new skills, broaden their knowledge, and sometimes even reevaluate their entire worldview.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All of these can be translated into personal growth. Hugaas suggests that role-playing games may be used to promote emotional and cognitive development. <\/span>The concept of alibi, where players are not held accountable for their character\u2019s actions, helps reduce the pressure of identity defenses. This means that players can explore aspects of their emotions and identity without worrying about being judged.<\/span> This freedom is more than just fun\u2014it\u2019s transformative. Exploring unfamiliar parts of themselves<\/span> helps players become more self-aware, increases their self-complexity (<\/span>basically a richer understanding of who they are), and boosts their resilience and mental well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re creating RPGs, understanding bleed is like learning a cheat code for meaningful game design.<\/span> Hugaas points out the necessity of balancing game mechanics, narrative design, and player interaction to optimize the opportunity for identity development while maintaining a safe and supportive environment. <\/span>And no, you don\u2019t need a degree in psychology to make it happen, just thoughtful design and a little empathy for your players.<\/span> Designers, for example, can create scenarios that force players to confront moral dilemmas, push their limits, or interact in ways that reveal new aspects of their personalities. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the end, the worlds we create in games don\u2019t just stay there. They ripple outward, changing how we see ourselves and interact with the world. Whether you’re a player or a designer, Hugaas\u2019s work reminds us of the profound potential in every game we play.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Original article:<\/span><\/b> Hugaas, K. H. (2024). Bleed and Identity: A Conceptual Model of Bleed and How Bleed-out from Role-playing Games Can Affect a Player\u2019s Sense of Self. <\/span>International Journal of Role-Playing<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>15<\/span><\/i>, 9\u201335. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.33063\/ijrp.vi15.323<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo: <\/span><\/b>Screenshot from Undertale, taken by Dan Vu.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What if your game character could change who you are? Sounds dramatic, but Kjell Hedgard Hugaas explores this question through #bleed, the crossover between players and characters. As it turns out, #RPGs don\u2019t just tell stories, they reshape #identity and unlock new dimensions of #self-discovery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":16083,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[237],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-game-research-highlights","entry","has-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/243"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16081"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16081\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16084,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16081\/revisions\/16084"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}