Online games are games played over the internet. They include massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMOGs) and first-person shooters. These are among the most popular types of games.
Various types of online games can be played on computers, smartphones, and tablet devices. They can be free or paid for. Typically, users agree to an End User License Agreement, which defines the rules they must follow. This helps prevent conflicts between players.
In addition to providing an entertaining experience, online games provide social benefits. Especially for shy individuals, they can help them build friendships and overcome their social barriers.
The current study explores the relationship between emotional sensitivity (ES) and gaming-related friendships. It draws on a sample of 50,000 game players in Germany.
Emotionally sensitive players report tangible differences in their in-game friendship networks. Moreover, their participation in online gaming can improve their social skills, enabling them to interact more effectively offline.
In order to study the relationship between ES and online video game play, researchers drew on a large representative sample of German game players. Using an omnibus telephone survey, they asked participants to rate their gaming behavior. Only those who reported playing social online games were included in the study.
Future research should explore the quality of the friendships formed within the gaming environment. It is also important to investigate the relationship between ES and the quantity of friends.
Online gaming can provide a great social experience for shy or introverted individuals. Several studies have shown that the social environment of online gaming can be beneficial for people who are shy and emotionally inhibited.
