Fullwood, C, Cross, L, Atherton, G and Chadwick, D (2024) Testing the Proteus Effect in Autistic and Neurotypical Participants. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 28 (3). pp. 162-168. ISSN 2152-2715

Preview

Text Testing the Proteus effect in autistic and neurotypical participants.pdf - Accepted Version Download (422kB) | Preview

Abstract

This study examined the Proteus effect in autistic and neurotypical participants via the video game, The Sims. Thirty-two participants (16 autistic, 16 neurotypical) participated in a free-play session of The Sims, playing as either an attractive or unattractive avatar. In line with predictions, participants who had played as the attractive avatar negotiated for a significantly larger share of a fictional pot of money during a post-play economic game. Further, participants who had used the attractive avatar engaged in significantly more exercise activities in-game and flirted more often with nonplayable characters. While there was some evidence to suggest that autistic people may be less resistant to peer influence in the economic game, this study shows for the first time how the Proteus effect can be demonstrated in autistic people. These findings have important implications for understanding how autistic people experience video games and may be leveraged to improve outcomes for autistic video gamers.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the accepted version of the following article: Testing the Proteus Effect in Autistic and Neurotypical Participants Chris Fullwood, Liam Cross, Gray Atherton, and Darren Chadwick Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 2025 28:3, 162-168, which has now been formally published in final form at Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking at https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2024.0287. This original submission version of the article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers’ self-archiving terms and conditions.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	autism; Proteus effect; bleed; Humans; Autistic Disorder; Video Games; Adolescent; Adult; Female; Male; Young Adult; Proteus effect; autism; bleed; Humans; Male; Female; Autistic Disorder; Video Games; Adult; Young Adult; Adolescent; 46 Information and Computing Sciences; 4608 Human-Centred Computing; Brain Disorders; Clinical Research; Mental health; Humans; Male; Female; Autistic Disorder; Video Games; Adult; Young Adult; Adolescent; 0806 Information Systems; 1701 Psychology; 1702 Cognitive Sciences; Clinical Psychology; 4609 Information systems; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology; 5205 Social and personality psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Mary Ann Liebert Inc
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	25 Apr 2025 09:30
Last Modified:	25 Apr 2025 09:30
DOI or ID number:	10.1089/cyber.2024.0287
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26244

View Item