Psychological Drivers of Metaverse Gaming: How Personality Traits Shape Gaming Users Behavior?

Abstract

This paper examines how personality traits, namely the ‘Dark Triad’ (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy), influence Gen Z's engagement with metaverse-based gaming. Using the Innovation Resistance Theory (IRT) and mixed-method approach we explain personality-driven adoption patterns and the psychological complexities associated with the metaverse. By combining the qualitative insights from in-depth interviews and quantitative data from surveys, we examine the relationship between dark personality traits and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) within the metaverse. Findings reveal that driven by the social and competitive appeal of metaverse platforms, narcissistic and psychopathic traits significantly heighten the risk of IGD. While Machiavellianism is less influential in fostering gaming addiction, perceived compatibility and relative advantage of metaverse gaming enhances users’ engagement. The study highlights the moderating effect of gaming vulnerabilities, namely escapism and social isolation, to amplify the link between IGD and user engagement with the metaverse. It offers insights into the implications for game developers and mental health professionals. Personality traits and technological factors shape metaverse gaming engagement and distinguishes user adoption from ongoing engagement. Gaming vulnerabilities and facilitating conditions impact user involvement significantly. For developers, the findings show that enhancing the compatibility and technological features boosts metaverse games appeal.

Keywords: Metaverse Gaming, Internet Gaming Disorder, Gen Z Digital Behavior, Technology Adoption and Engagement, Dark Triad Personality Traits, innovation resistance theory