Different Frames of Players and the Motivation of Prosocial Behaviors in Digital Games

Abstract

In digital games, players may behave as they do in the real world. In-game behaviors may have multiple complex motivations, like in the real world, or they may be inspired by the rules of the game. How in-game behaviors are motivated may differ between different players. The current study focuses on the difference between players who interpret the game as a mere rule-based play and players who perceive the game as a world with its own rules and norms. Among different in-game behaviors, this study specifically focuses on players’ prosocial behaviors. A survey was conducted to look at the relationship between the attitude toward prosocial behaviors, its motivation, and how each player frames the gameplay. The findings of this study revealed that the different frames of players were significantly related to the motivation of the players’ prosocial behavior toward other characters.