If you usually choose what you want to be, and not something that's closer to you, then you're not gaining much from it. Were you to make a character that looks like you, but less fat, then you'd in turn want to lose that fat. You'd choose healthier options, and maybe use that gym membership that you got some months ago.

In a similar fashion, I imagine that if you're a normie, and have normie wants, then a somewhat muscular avatar of yourself would encourage you to lift weights, and lay off fatty products, and choose an apple over that one cookie at Subway.

This is what psychologist, and co-funder of Bethesda games Mitsuyoshi says

I'm not fat, though

Quote from: Citrus Snake on September 20, 2015, 01:24:46 PM

I'm not fat, though

Yeah, but you'll never reach Big Boss's level of muscles without helicopter extractions an avatar that looks like you but more muscular.

i don't want to be

i always try to make my character resemble myself, but not at all for those reasons

either that, or i keep it default, because that shit is honestly a hassle
i just want to play the game

I'm not fat, though

Don't lie, you obese cunt.

That doesn't make much sense. If anything, you'd just continue to vicariously live through the avatar you created. It's the reason why "don't speak, do" is a thing; imagining yourself doing something good (charity, working out, eating healthy, etc) gives you the same kind of mental feedback as actually doing it.

There's a difference between working out hard, and working out so hard that you fail to do any more reps. One isn't that emotional, and is more of a chore, whereas the other has more meaning. If you're close to your limit, that means that you've accepted the pain, and you're willing to go until your muscles are too tired to carry on, whereas if you're wroking out hard, you're trying to reach a number.

The end result is that one will raise muscle hypertrophy more than the other, but you'll also feel good about yourself with the pushing yourself to the limit, because although lifting is a part of your life, it is not a chore, but a challenge that you take into heart. Reaching a number is great, but waking up the next day with the sorest muscles you've had is so much greater.

Both are working out, but why does one give you a better mental feedback? I think it's because when you push yourself to the limit, you're happy that you were able to do it. "You fought bravely", a victory where you dominated your weakness.

Compare this feeling with the one where you work out so that you can run faster jump higher, and you'll not be happy with the workout itself, because in this case you care about the results, and it's practice that gives results, so might as well like the practice to make it more fun.

I believe that the OP is weak, because it represents the working out hard to reach results, and not to dominate your weakness, but I think that it will give you more inspiration to move and lift stuff, and from there you can choose to take it further on your own, or let it die off. That spark is better than no spark.

As for the actual facts:

Aside from this article, I remember reading the avatar thing in a book, and in another I read something similar to the stuff above.

Female interviewers asked questions to people who had just gone through a swaying bridge that raised their heart rates, and made them breathe in more air. Similar to how our bodies react when we're in love, and through these conditions the interviewed thought they were in fact in love.

so basically, if we think we are cool, we act cool. If we think we're healthy, we act healthy.

That doesn't make much sense. If anything, you'd just continue to vicariously live through the avatar you created. It's the reason why "don't speak, do" is a thing; imagining yourself doing something good (charity, working out, eating healthy, etc) gives you the same kind of mental feedback as actually doing it.

How thoughts and imaginations control actions
How the brain reacts to heavy thought and action

That's it, I'd say.

Imagining yourself as someone more brave, muscular etc, will make you want to be those things. Playing as a character that looks like you who is a badass will make you think that you're also a bit of a badass, or at least you could be a badass.

I don't get it. We're on the same wavelength, yet there's confusion.

I'm gonna make my character look like Hulk Hogan

Hey, did you have a good day?

so basically

fuck brains

Quote from: Desty on September 20, 2015, 02:29:23 PM

Quote from: Jono on September 20, 2015, 02:28:39 PM

I'm gonna make my character look like Hulk Hogan

Hey, did you have a good day?

I just woke up about 40 minutes ago

Hey, that's great. I hope you have a great day, champ.

Quote from: Desty on September 20, 2015, 02:17:20 PM

Quote from: Prime Uta on September 20, 2015, 01:34:15 PM

That doesn't make much sense. If anything, you'd just continue to vicariously live through the avatar you created. It's the reason why "don't speak, do" is a thing; imagining yourself doing something good (charity, working out, eating healthy, etc) gives you the same kind of mental feedback as actually doing it.

How thoughts and imaginations control actions
How the brain reacts to heavy thought and action

That's it, I'd say.

Imagining yourself as someone more brave, muscular etc, will make you want to be those things. Playing as a character that looks like you who is a badass will make you think that you're also a bit of a badass, or at least you could be a badass.

I don't get it. We're on the same wavelength, yet there's confusion.

Opposite. Thinking gets the same emotional reward as doing, so there's no point in doing in terms of that.

For example, when you think of berating the guy on his phone at the front of the fastfood line, you get the same stimulation as actually doing it. When you think of working out, you get the same mental stimulation as actually working out. This is because the area of your brain that determines action uses your imagination to do so. It's why people with missing arms can still feel their fingers, because the brain imagine that they still have it.

In terms of the avatar scenario, it would work the same way. You think of yourself as doing all these great things, so your body rewards you (chemically) as if you actually did them. There's no drive to actually put real effort into yourself when you get the same mental stimulation in a game.

Tl;dr Thinking is not doing, but your brain thinks it is. This is one of the reasons behind procrastination, and why so many who intend to start healthy living habits don't follow through.

I'd read that article, but my eyes hurt from me not blinking when reading, so they kinda hurt right now.

Most of us have pauses where we don't play the game, and then we just carry on with being fit, but oh wait, our pecs could use some work, our biceps more mass, and our legs more flexibility. We use the mindset we got in the game, to carry on the rewards, only IRL.

Your brain only cares about what keeps you alive, it is your conscious effort that will keep the healthy living habits go on. Why would the brain want to eat bad tasting food, or spend energy on destroying muscle, and then spend more on rebuilding it? There isn't much reward in these things, but it's the results that make us, not our primitive brain, realize the value in these things, and in turn we will be a bit healthier.

The brain is great, but it isn't all knowing. It will trick us into cheap things, like avoiding something because it brought negative results in the past. Even if you'd know for a fact that the danger from before is gone, you brain would forbid you to even tread past it.

I burnt my fingers twice using an iron (trying to grab it from the front). This happened because I acted out of habit, and it took my brain some time to realize that I should pay attention to what I'm doing. After having my fingers really hot, I tried to iron more with my right hand, but the pain in my left hand increased dramatically to the point where I let go off the iron. I knew for a fact that I could handle it though, and I also knew that the feeling of pain is only there because my brain is trying to make me want to get away from damage, but the damage had already been dealt, so I went through with it anyway.

I was gonna say something about habit, because I thought it was connected to your post, but I forgot what I was gonna say, so instead I will say:

For example, when you think of berating the guy on his phone at the front of the fastfood line, you get the same stimulation as actually doing it. When you think of working out, you get the same mental stimulation as actually working out. This is because the area of your brain that determines action uses your imagination to do so. It's why people with missing arms can still feel their fingers, because the brain imagine that they still have it.

No. I get the thought, but if we had that kind of control over our bodies, we'd be able to get muscular without lifting much. We'd be able to lower our cortisol levels when doing presentations etc. dream scenario basically. Face reality.

If you want to say something, and don't feel like I've answered something from before, please copy paste it into your next reply.

Why would I want to see my receding hairline every time I play the game?

To come to terms with it.

I'm not exactly a compelling protagonist though.

Would you be able to control a really interesting character on your own? Would it feel real? I get being given an interesting character, but to create the character through so many actions, and sticking to that character's way of thinking- now that's something not many people can do.

But I like playing characters that aren't me, it's fun