Overview

"The Avatar Faculty creatively examines the parallels between spiritual and digital activities to explore the roles that symbolic second selves—avatars—can play in our lives. The use of avatars can allow for what anthropologists call ecstasy, from the Greek ekstasis, meaning ""standing outside oneself."" The archaic techniques of promoting spiritual ecstasy, which remain central to religious healing traditions around the world, now also have contemporary analogues in virtual worlds found on the internet. In this innovative book, Jeffrey G. Snodgrass argues that avatars allow for the ecstatic projection of consciousness into alternate realities, potentially providing both the spiritually possessed and gamers access to superior secondary identities with elevated social standing. Even if only temporary, self-transformations of these kinds can help reduce psychosocial stress and positively impact health and well-being."

Full Product Details

Author:   Jeffrey G. Snodgrass
Publisher:   University of California Press
Imprint:   University of California Press
Volume:   16
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.363kg
ISBN:  

9780520384361

ISBN 10:   0520384369
Pages:   280
Publication Date:   10 January 2023
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Contents List of Illustrations Key Terms and Abbreviations Preface  Central Characters and Settings Introduction  1 • Sacred and Secular Settings  2 • The Psychology of Avatar Therapeutics: Absorptive Experiences and Stress Relief 3 • The Psychosocial Dynamics of Avatar  Therapeutics: Enhanced Self-Image and Elevated Social Standing  4 • Distinguishing Therapeutic from Toxic Avatar Experiences: Norm Conflicts and Felt Dissonance  Conclusion  Acknowledgments Appendix A. Chapter 2 Supplemental Material:  Survey Methods and Results  Appendix B. Chapter 3 Supplemental Materials: Survey Methods and Results Appendix C. Chapter 4 Supplemental Material: Survey Methods and Results  Notes  Glossary  References  Index 

Reviews

"""Scholars and social scientists of religion will find much of interest in this book, because it explores the increasingly uncertain borders of 'religion,' when secularization may be obscuring the meaning of the concept without actually satisfying the human need for sacred norms and profound meanings."" * Nova Religio *"

Author Information

Jeffrey G. Snodgrass is Professor of Anthropology at Colorado State University.

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