Editing Avatar (computing) (section)

===Representation of identity===
The Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication published a study of the reactions to certain types of avatars by a sample group of human users. The results showed that users commonly chose avatars which were humanoid and matched their gender. The conclusion was that in order to make users feel more "at home" in their avatars, designers should maximise the customizability of visual criteria common to humans, such as skin and hair color, age, gender, hair styles and height.<ref group=j>{{cite journal | last1 = Nowak | first1 = K. L. | last2 = Rauh | first2 = C. | year = 2005 | title = The Influence of the Avatar on Online Perceptions of Anthropomorphism, Androgyny, Credibility, Homophily, and Attraction | journal = Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication | volume = 11 | issue = 1| pages = 153–178 | doi = 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2006.tb00308.x | doi-access = free }}</ref> Researchers at York University studied whether avatars reflected a user's real-life personality.<ref name="Post 2015">{{cite web | last=Gregoire | first=Carolyn | title=People Can Predict Your Personality From Your Online Avatar | website=The Huffington Post | date=14 January 2015  | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/14/online-avatar-personality_n_6463484.html | access-date=17 January 2015}}</ref> Student test groups were able to infer upon extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, but could not infer upon openness and conscientiousness.<ref name="Post 2015"/>

Researchers have also studied avatars that differ from real-life identity. [[Sherry Turkle]] described a middle-aged man who played an aggressive, confrontational female character in his online communities, displaying personality traits he was embarrassed to display in the offline world.<ref name="turkle">{{cite magazine|last=McCorduck|first=Pamela|title=Sex, Lies and Avatars|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.04/turkle_pr.html|magazine=Wired|access-date=15 December 2012}}</ref> Research by Nick Yee of the Daedelus Project demonstrates that an avatar may differ considerably from a player's offline identity, based on gender.<ref name="yee">{{cite web|last=Yee|first=Nick|title=Our Virtual Bodies, Ourselves?|url=http://www.nickyee.com/daedalus/archives/001613.php?page=1|work=The Daedalus Project|access-date=15 December 2012|date=17 February 2008}}</ref> However, most players will make an avatar that is (proportionately) equal to their height (or slightly taller).<ref name="yee" /> Turkle has observed that some players seek an emotional connection they cannot establish in the real world. She described a case in which a man with a serious heart condition preventing him from ordinary socializing found acceptance and friendship through his online identity.<ref name="turkle" /> Others have pointed out similar findings in those with [[mental disorders]] making [[social interaction]] difficult, such as those with [[autism]] or similar disabilities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Stephen|title=Working Through Personal Identity Issues Using Virtual Communities and Networks|url=http://networkconference.netstudies.org/2010/04/working-through-personal-identity-issues-using-virtual-communities-and-networks/|work=Online Conference on Networks and Communities|access-date=15 December 2012|date=23 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320224257/http://networkconference.netstudies.org/2010/04/working-through-personal-identity-issues-using-virtual-communities-and-networks/|archive-date=20 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>