Affiliation:
1. Pennsylvania State University
Abstract
In virtual worlds, users interact with each other by creating virtual identities through avatars. As the avatar creation process is constrained by the assumptions of designers who develop the avatar creation tools, some potential participants in virtual worlds are forced into narrow social roles that may not accurately represent them. Drawing on structuration theory and trust literature, we develop a research agenda that addresses how avatar-based technologies and user social identities may be mutually constructed and how identity misrepresentation may impact trust in virtual worlds. This paper demonstrates the importance of a discussion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues in virtual worlds. These issues require additional research that should closely examine the ongoing changes both in the technology facilitating the virtual worlds, as well as the social landscape that governs issues of diversity in general, and gender issues in particular.
Publisher
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Subject
Computer Networks and Communications,Management Information Systems
Reference4 articles.
1. Cohen I.J. (1989). Structuration Theory: Anthony Giddens and the Constitution of Social Life St Martin's Press: New York. Cohen I.J. (1989). Structuration Theory: Anthony Giddens and the Constitution of Social Life St Martin's Press: New York.
2. Giddens A. (1984). The Constitution of Society Berkeley: University of California Press. Giddens A. (1984). The Constitution of Society Berkeley: University of California Press.
3. Luhmann N. (1979). Trust and Power John Wiley & Sons: Chichester England. Luhmann N. (1979). Trust and Power John Wiley & Sons: Chichester England.
4. Generalized expectancies for interpersonal trust.
Cited by
16 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献，注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献，订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献