OFTEN wondered why some people become engrossed in computer games?

New research has looked into whether the lure of games, including controversial ones such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, are actually a way for the gamer to be someone else.

Instead of playing because they enjoy the shooting aspect of the game, the research found it is, in fact, the chance to be someone different, and take on an alter ego, that makes games appealing.

Psychologist Dr Andy Przybylski, a visiting researcher at Essex University, is leading the study.

He says: “For example, if you are in a job which doesn’t allow you to be a leader or an extrovert, that can hurt.

“The gaming domain gives you the chance to be like that. Not only do you play more, you feel better emotionally. It’s almost like stress relief.”

He says it makes no difference whether the character taken on by the gamer is a hero, villain or even a different gender, it’s all about being someone they are not in real life. Dr Przybylski worked with co-author Dr Netta Weinstein, also from the department of psychology at Essex University, and academics in Germany and the America, to put this research together. It will be published in the industry journal, Psychological Science, in the coming weeks.

Dr Przybylski, 29, originally from New York, was inspired to carry out the research by the idea people are running away from their lives when they play games.

The research was carried out in two sections. There was a lab test on 150 people, mainly women, and then a second study of nearly 1,000 regular gamers, mainly men.

Researchers tested for gender differences, but found none. The first part of the study was carried out in America, with casual gamers asked to play three games they had never played before.

The second part was carried out in the UK, after Dr Przybylski began his time at Essex University, where dedicated gamers were asked to play their favourite games.

Players were asked how they felt after playing in relation to the attributes or characteristics of the persona they would ideally like to be.

Dr Przybylski found while people escape into a game, it was not necessarily about avoiding real life.

“A game can be more fun when you get the chance to act and be like your ideal self,” he explains. “I was heartened by the findings, which showed people were not running away from themselves, but running towards their ideals.

“They are not escaping to nowhere, they are escaping to somewhere.

“There are elements of video game play which make it very attractive for me.

“When you are at school and in life in general, how hard you work and good you are at what you do, and the way the world gives you feedback, is very poor. In a game, the correlation is perfect – games offer very good competence feedback.”

Much of the current research on games focuses on its negative impacts – how people are addicted to it, whether it causes aggression and claims of its links to depression. But Dr Przybylski says: “There is no research on other emotional states, such as it making people happy or sad. Psychologists could be criticised for that.”

He’s now hoping to continue his research, to find out whether playing enough video games actually changes a person’s behaviour – so if they are more assertive in a game, will they become more assertive in real life.

Although his study looks at the positives of game play, some parents may not be swayed to allow their children free rein on the games consoles.

He explains most research on children and gaming has uncovered similar results to adults, and that current guidelines to parents on how much their children should play is unsubstantiated. He says: “The guidelines say limit screen time to two hours a day. I am not saying limiting screen time is a bad thing. If I had a child and I had a choice between allowing them two hours or four hours screen time, I would choose two hours. But no study has validated that.”

He advises parents to talk to their children about why they enjoy playing and perhaps even play the games with them. He adds: “Games are really important for children’s interaction with their peers and it is a common thing they all talk about. Identify what your child finds interesting about a game – it could have a positive effect.”