Empathy as a Motive of Prosocial Behavior in Digital Games and the Frames of Meaning

Abstract

When playing digital games, players adopt different frames to interpret what is going on in the games. Fine[5] suggests that players may adopt three different selves, or frames when they are playing games or talking about games. The three frames are character, player, and person. With a character frame, players interpret the game according to the rules of the game world. With a character frame, players interpret the game according to the rules of the game. Person frame is the primary framework that the interpretation of every day is based on. How players interpret the game may affect the meaning of their behaviors in the game. In this study, I looked at the frames of meaning that players adopt when they play games, how they are related to empathy toward other characters, and how they affect players’ decisions to help other characters in games by conducting a survey.