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«IZVESTIYA IRKUTSKOGO GOSUDARSTVENNOGO UNIVERSITETA». SERIYA «PSICHOLOGIYA»
«THE BULLETIN OF IRKUTSK STATE UNIVERSITY». SERIES «PSYCHOLOGY»
ISSN 2304-1226 (Print)

List of issues > Series «Psychology». 2026. Vol 55

Level Approach to the Analysis of Role Identity of Digital Game Players

Author(s)

R. S. Potapov

Baikal State University, Irkutsk, Russian Federation

Abstract
The article presents a critical analytical review of the studies of role identity in digital games. The object is the articles describing role video game identity. The subject is the levels of analysis of gamers’ identity and the ways of their operationalization. The aim of the study is to systematize levels of the analysis, to show that their mixing results in structural conflict, interferes with comparison of the results and makes it difficult to provide rationalization for such categories as “episode” and “episodic position” determining a minimal level of the analysis of role identity in digital games studies. Five levels related to theoretical and methodological approaches and typical data collection procedures are highlighted. It is shown that the episodic position is the point where characteristics of the players, avatar parameters, functional roles, and social statuses come together and sets a benchmark for gamers’ role identity research
About the Authors
Potapov Roman Sergeevich, Postgraduate, Department of Sociology and Psychology Baikal State University 11, Lenin st., Irkutsk, 664003, Russian Federation e-mail: www.nftw@mail.ru
For citation
Potapov R.S. Level Approach to the Analysis of Role Identity of Digital Game Players. The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Psychology, 2026, vol. 55, pp. 52-69. https://doi.org/10.26516/2304-1226.2026.55.52 (in Russian)
Keywords
gamer’s role identity, digital games, computer games, avatar, social role, episodic position.
UDC
159.9
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26516/2304-1226.2026.55.52
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