Antecedents of the closeness of human-avatar relationships in a virtual world

Yi Zhao; Weiquan Wang; Yan Zhu

doi:10.4018/978-1-61350-471-0.ch007

Antecedents of the closeness of human-avatar relationships in a virtual world

Yi Zhao
, Weiquan Wang
, Yan Zhu

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 12 - Chapter in an edited book (Author) › peer-review

Abstract

Virtual worlds (e.g., Second Life), where users interact and form relationships with other users' virtual identities represented by avatars (i.e., human-avatar relationships), are increasingly influential in today's businesses and society. Nevertheless, the sustainability and impact of virtual worlds depend largely on the closeness of human-avatar relationships. This study investigates the antecedents of the closeness of such relationships. The authors conceptualize human-avatar relationship closeness as composed of interaction frequency, activity diversity, and relational influence. They identify its antecedents (perceived needs fulfillment, relationship irreplaceableness, and resource investment) by extending Rusbult's investment model of interpersonal relationship commitment to the domain of human-computer interaction. The authors test the hypotheses through an online survey of Second Life users and find that (1) resource investment is positively associated with all three human-avatar relationship closeness dimensions; (2) needs fulfillment is positively associated with interaction frequency and relational influence; and (3) relationship irreplaceableness is positively associated with relational influence. © 2012 by IGI Global. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Cross-Disciplinary Models and Applications of Database Management: Advancing Approaches
Publisher	IGI Global Publishing
Pages	146-175
ISBN (Print)	9781613504727, 9781613504710
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-61350-471-0.ch007
Publication status	Published - 31 Dec 2011
Externally published	Yes

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Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

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title = "Antecedents of the closeness of human-avatar relationships in a virtual world",

abstract = "Virtual worlds (e.g., Second Life), where users interact and form relationships with other users' virtual identities represented by avatars (i.e., human-avatar relationships), are increasingly influential in today's businesses and society. Nevertheless, the sustainability and impact of virtual worlds depend largely on the closeness of human-avatar relationships. This study investigates the antecedents of the closeness of such relationships. The authors conceptualize human-avatar relationship closeness as composed of interaction frequency, activity diversity, and relational influence. They identify its antecedents (perceived needs fulfillment, relationship irreplaceableness, and resource investment) by extending Rusbult's investment model of interpersonal relationship commitment to the domain of human-computer interaction. The authors test the hypotheses through an online survey of Second Life users and find that (1) resource investment is positively associated with all three human-avatar relationship closeness dimensions; (2) needs fulfillment is positively associated with interaction frequency and relational influence; and (3) relationship irreplaceableness is positively associated with relational influence. {\textcopyright} 2012 by IGI Global. All rights reserved.",

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Antecedents of the closeness of human-avatar relationships in a virtual world. / Zhao, Yi; Wang, Weiquan; Zhu, Yan.
Cross-Disciplinary Models and Applications of Database Management: Advancing Approaches. IGI Global Publishing, 2011. p. 146-175.

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 12 - Chapter in an edited book (Author) › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Antecedents of the closeness of human-avatar relationships in a virtual world

AU - Zhao, Yi

AU - Wang, Weiquan

AU - Zhu, Yan

N1 - Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

PY - 2011/12/31

Y1 - 2011/12/31

N2 - Virtual worlds (e.g., Second Life), where users interact and form relationships with other users' virtual identities represented by avatars (i.e., human-avatar relationships), are increasingly influential in today's businesses and society. Nevertheless, the sustainability and impact of virtual worlds depend largely on the closeness of human-avatar relationships. This study investigates the antecedents of the closeness of such relationships. The authors conceptualize human-avatar relationship closeness as composed of interaction frequency, activity diversity, and relational influence. They identify its antecedents (perceived needs fulfillment, relationship irreplaceableness, and resource investment) by extending Rusbult's investment model of interpersonal relationship commitment to the domain of human-computer interaction. The authors test the hypotheses through an online survey of Second Life users and find that (1) resource investment is positively associated with all three human-avatar relationship closeness dimensions; (2) needs fulfillment is positively associated with interaction frequency and relational influence; and (3) relationship irreplaceableness is positively associated with relational influence. © 2012 by IGI Global. All rights reserved.

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Antecedents of the closeness of human-avatar relationships in a virtual world

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