Avatar Impostors

In a past two part study, participants were first ostracized in a virtual ball tossing game by individuals who either revealed or replaced their identity using virtual avatars.(image)In the second part of the study, participants had to allocate a sample of Tapatio hot sauce to one of the individuals who just ostracized them. Participants could allocate as much or as little hot sauce as they wanted, and this amount was weighed and recorded as a measure of aggression. On average individuals who were ostracized by identity replaced others allocated more than twice as much hot sauce to the ostracizer than participants who were ostracized by those who revealed their identity. In our follow up study, we were interested in expanding our knowledge of the effects and perceptions of identity manipulation. Specifically, what attributions do others make about motives behind identity replacement? The reactions and responses from those who participated helped show how others perceive people who manipulate their identity. The key motivations that we collect will be measured in future studies; this will allow us to better understand the mechanisms that lead to unique perceptions of identity manipulated others.