1. An Empathic Interaction Experiment Sibylle Enz

2. The First-Person-Shooter Experiment Player experiences the 3D virtual world through the eyes of the hero while killing monsters

3. Research Questions Does empathy play a role in player – agent relationship? How does dispositional empathy affect interaction behaviour?

4. The FPS Experiment Development of FPS using „3D gamestudio“ software  game duration, protocols, experimental manipulation of opponent design Game parameters:  number of killed opponents, number of objects, duration, life energy Sample:  30 subjects (10 male, 20 female)  age 19-33 (M=22.4; SD=3.56)  20 ♀; 10 ♂  29 students of Bamberg university (psychology/pedagogy)

5. Opponents Humans Box Cartoon Robots

6. The FPS Experiment

7. Experimental Design Initial Diagnosis Empathy Scale, Personality Scales (Neo- FFI, TMMS, Aggression, Competence) 1. Game Subjects are randomly assigned to one of the opponents (Box, Cartoon, Humans, Robots) 2. Game Free choice of opponent Opponent Q’aire Questions on perceptions of and attitudes towards opponents Interview Questions on the experiment, empathy, aggression etc.

8. The FPS Experiment - Results Interview:  Highly empathic Ss expect empathic abilities to influence the interaction with the game Opponent Q’aire:  Significant correlation self-reported empathy and scruples experienced while playing against opponents

9. The FPS Experiment - Results Choice of opponent for 2 nd game:  None of the highly empathic Ss chose a human- like opponent FPS interaction:  Success: number of opponents killed, number of transputors collected, remaining life energy  Highly ideomotoric empathic Ss have more success in the game

10. Summary Highly empathic subjects empathize more with opponents  Choice of opponent, scruples Affective/Cognitive Empathy: no influence on successful playing  Importance of emotional expression for empathic processes Ideomotoric Empathy: positively correlated with success  Anticipation of opponents’ motoric action