Self-actualization, as a conceptual notion, is described as a never ending phenomenon. While accompanying the inevitable constant that is growing older, many form internalized personifications that reflect a certain sense of “self” that more or less answers the time honored question, “who are you?”.
This development can be influenced by any number of external or internal variables such as geographical location, mental health, exposure to traumatic events, family life, or even something as off handed as their dietary habits. At the core consensus of a figurative ‘Self’ though, there remains a personal visage. An identity that is defined by one’s own discretion.
In regards to what exactly helps facilitate this formation, the old saying that “it takes a village” shares a great deal of significant prominence in the world of gaming.
Community settings can be both minimalistic or vast, depending on who is interested in what. Often times, the visible influence stems from social constructions, in which the perception individuals form for themselves in accordance to society’s standards, are built upon. Culturally, environments for gamers thrive through outreach that expands upon things like in-person events, online forums, fan art, and various other mediums; all of which promote key components to one’s construction of self-actualization. Discussions, board postings, playing with a mic, little things add along to a larger picture that is carried from birth until death.
At some point forward, the boundaries become interlaced between states of reflection, opinion, bias, and other moral fixations which force us all to either strengthen or reevaluate our identities.
In Esports, dynamics separate themselves from casual communities in the sense that they become more centerline in pursuits of advancement for a particular field of business or competition. Merits of interest do not easily account for experience as they do for storyline games with predesigned outcomes.
In an article published by Yuri Seo in the Journal of Business Research titled Professionalized consumption and identity transformations in the field of eSports, the author explores a proposed transformative narrative that Esports encompasses fully. Despite the industry’s otherwise unexplored sociological research, the significance of the author’s findings insinuate that as a professionalized pursuit, Esports offer a unique cultural juxtaposition. Due to the various borderlines the field balances amongst; entertainment, athletic management, monetary valued competition, leisure play, and intrinsic consumption of intent. The fact that gaming is now connotatively relevant to the concept of obligations means that there are internal transformations that coincide with the development of Self that can be utilized to broaden individuals formation of an Identity.
The relevance of constant mainstream engagement forces a cerebral focus on skills that are the adherent result of a professionalized reconciling of personal pursuits. Otherwise implying that, the more renown Esports gain in public acceptability and societal affixation, the less detriment occurs to the psyche of those who are told their careers are not feasible for long term growth.
This influence is massive and, in this author’s humble opinion, the greatest possible point of interest to expand upon with theoretical thought. Interests are initiative and allow creativity to become boundless, there is an inherent, and unavoidable, cost to communicating, and that is that you really can not NOT communicate. Body language, information sharing, and near all forms of media are fixated towards cultural significance. In the research I have been conducting on Esports over the last three years, I can safely say that never more in my time at Rutgers, have I experiences such a profound discussion as the above mentioned article.
Agency and free will are turns of phrase I am sure many have aquatinted themselves with throughout their own developments of Self, but in cases such as these, there is a much heavier point of interest that I feel is often misconstructed by past hostility towards gaming.
Playing video games changes individuals. Playing them competitively alters the course of those changes. Rather than seeking immersion or an escape from the world around them, there is an urgency for success. There is a feasible drive of consequence that does not end at a “game over” screen. Professionals play for a livelihood that depends upon their performance, their content, their availability as much as it would so for any athlete in the NBA or NFL. Fans follow players, teams, organizations just as they would any hometown alma mater. With the rise of institutional recognition comes expectations that did not exist one decade ago. In just ten years, the face of an entire profession has redefined itself into something much larger than we ever could have imagined possible. And it is as extraordinary as it is dangerous.
Esports, in the colligate/professional/or community sense have demands that influence how we perceive ourselves. In the industry, you are treated as a piece to a puzzle, but one that can be replaced just as easily. The commitment to being in the know, to mastering skills, and to engaging beyond what is required means that the construction of individualistic value is constantly being competed against and challenged. Digital technology is changing the culture around us in massive ways, but it is also effecting the individuals involved in ways that many likely would never predict even now. The leisure of gaming has crossed into the territory of constant consumption.
But that should not be used to dissuade how viable this growth is. When monetary considerations are gone, when there is no question of who we become, the question turns into one of why. Why do we change in Esports? Why does Esports contest our Identities?
It is because it matters to us. At the end of the day, happiness, security, all the things we dream of are now standing before us at the line that once laid as a wall between career assurance and fun.
And I for one, can not wait to see who I become the longer I remain on the path of Esports.
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