{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,1]],"date-time":"2026-06-01T19:36:05Z","timestamp":1780342565031,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":71,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2012,1,1]],"date-time":"2012-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1325376000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Games and Culture"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2012,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Men are more reluctant to seek help for their problems than women. This difference is attributed to social expectations regarding the male gender role. Today, help-seeking is moving online: instead of traditional peer groups and counselors, people depend on online communities and e-counselors. But online users can appear in guises that differ from their physical sex. An empirical study was conducted in an online game to examine whether users\u2019 avatars\u2019 gender influences how they seek and receive help. Analysis is based on user-to-user communications and back-end data. Results indicate that male avatars are less likely to receive sought-for help than female avatars and more likely to be the recipients of indirectly sought help. The authors conclude that avatar gender influences help seeking independent of physical sex: Men overcome their inhibition for help seeking when using female avatars. Practitioners should ensure that means for indirect help seeking are available in order not to exclude male-pattern help seekers.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/1555412012440307","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2012,3,27]],"date-time":"2012-03-27T05:48:07Z","timestamp":1332827287000},"page":"29-47","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":48,"title":["The Stoic Male"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Mika","family":"Lehdonvirta","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yosuke","family":"Nagashima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vili","family":"Lehdonvirta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Asia Research Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Akira","family":"Baba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2012,3,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/cpb.2006.9.60"},{"key":"bibr2-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2008.02.004"},{"key":"bibr3-1555412012440307","first-page":"29","volume":"5","author":"Befu H.","year":"1980","journal-title":"Social Analysis"},{"key":"bibr4-1555412012440307","volume-title":"The dynamics of bureaucracy","author":"Blau P.","year":"1955"},{"key":"bibr5-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2005.08.003"},{"key":"bibr6-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2009.03.004"},{"key":"bibr8-1555412012440307","first-page":"3","volume-title":"New directions in helping: Vol. 2. Help-seeking","author":"DePaulo B. M.","year":"1983"},{"key":"bibr9-1555412012440307","volume-title":"The social psychology of helping behavior","author":"Dovidio J. F.","year":"2006"},{"key":"bibr11-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327752jpa5201_12"},{"key":"bibr12-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-241950-8.50015-0"},{"key":"bibr13-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-2909.91.1.27"},{"key":"bibr14-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.54.1.74"},{"key":"bibr15-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/01639620490441272"},{"key":"bibr16-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/j.1556-6676.1990.tb01447.x"},{"key":"bibr17-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/j.1556-6676.1995.tb01825.x"},{"key":"bibr18-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00941418"},{"key":"bibr19-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/2094822"},{"key":"bibr20-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1015845100237"},{"key":"bibr21-1555412012440307","volume-title":"Fundamental statistics for the behavioral sciences","author":"Howell D. C.","year":"2007","edition":"6"},{"key":"bibr22-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/109493100452200"},{"key":"bibr23-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/cpb.2007.0020"},{"key":"bibr24-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1525\/si.1998.21.2.129"},{"key":"bibr25-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/2136367"},{"key":"bibr26-1555412012440307","first-page":"223","volume":"37","author":"Kumatoridani T.","year":"1988","journal-title":"Bulletin of the Faculty of Education of Hiroshima University"},{"key":"bibr27-1555412012440307","volume-title":"Therapeutic discourse","author":"Labov W.","year":"1977"},{"key":"bibr28-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2003.11.005"},{"key":"bibr29-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/13691180802587813"},{"key":"bibr30-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1108\/09593840810919671"},{"key":"bibr31-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1555412005281910"},{"key":"bibr32-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM197710202971605"},{"key":"bibr33-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2003.11.001"},{"key":"bibr34-1555412012440307","volume-title":"Gender roles: a sociological perspective","author":"Lindsey L.","year":"2005","edition":"4"},{"key":"bibr35-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1559-1816.1994.tb00553.x"},{"key":"bibr36-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/1524-9220.6.2.95"},{"key":"bibr37-1555412012440307","first-page":"29","volume":"13","author":"McKessar C. J.","year":"1978","journal-title":"New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies"},{"key":"bibr38-1555412012440307","first-page":"91","volume-title":"Sociological theory, values, and sociological change","author":"Merton R. K.","year":"1963"},{"key":"bibr39-1555412012440307","unstructured":"Miller C. C. (2009). The virtual visit may expand access to doctors. The New York Times, December 20. Retrieved December 28, 2009, http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2009\/12\/21\/technology\/start-ups\/21doctors.html"},{"key":"bibr40-1555412012440307","volume-title":"Developing online games: An insider\u2019s guide","author":"Mulligan J.","year":"2003"},{"key":"bibr41-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00287550"},{"key":"bibr43-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/0022-4537.00153"},{"key":"bibr44-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1559-1816.1997.tb00275.x"},{"key":"bibr45-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0037-7856(77)90141-X"},{"key":"bibr46-1555412012440307","volume-title":"The Content Analysis Guidebook","author":"Neuendorf K. A.","year":"2002"},{"key":"bibr47-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00287545"},{"key":"bibr48-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0093650209346802"},{"key":"bibr49-1555412012440307","unstructured":"Plunkett L. (2008). How much has wow cost blizzard since 2004? Kotaku. Retrieved January 20, 2010, from http:\/\/kotaku.com\/5050300\/how-much-has-wow-cost-blizzard-since-2004"},{"key":"bibr50-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1353\/jod.1995.0002"},{"key":"bibr51-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1145\/358916.361990"},{"key":"bibr52-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7551\/mitpress\/7105.001.0001"},{"key":"bibr53-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/136911899359538"},{"key":"bibr54-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0735-7028.12.1.7"},{"key":"bibr55-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9781139173438"},{"key":"bibr56-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2466\/pr0.1971.28.2.609"},{"key":"bibr57-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.35.9.656"},{"key":"bibr59-1555412012440307","first-page":"10","volume":"48","author":"Steinkuehler C.","year":"2008","journal-title":"Educational Technology"},{"key":"bibr60-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Steinkuehler C., Williams D. (2006). Where everybody knows your (screen) name: Online games as \u2018third places\u2019. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 11. Retrieved July 24, 2009, from http:\/\/jcmc.indiana.edu\/vol11\/issue4\/steinkuehler.html","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1083-6101.2006.00300.x"},{"key":"bibr61-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/1094931041291295"},{"key":"bibr62-1555412012440307","first-page":"19","volume-title":"Online counseling: A handbook for mental health professionals","author":"Suler J. R.","year":"2004"},{"key":"bibr63-1555412012440307","volume-title":"Hito wo Tasukeru Kokoro\u2013Social psychology of helping behavior","author":"Takagi O.","year":"1998"},{"key":"bibr64-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1360-0443.1986.tb00405.x"},{"key":"bibr65-1555412012440307","first-page":"47","volume":"48","author":"Tudiver F.","year":"1999","journal-title":"Journal of Family Practice"},{"key":"bibr66-1555412012440307","volume-title":"Life on the screen: Identity in the age of internet","author":"Turkle S.","year":"1995"},{"key":"bibr67-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2008.11.007"},{"key":"bibr68-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1300\/J013v04n01_04"},{"key":"bibr69-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/cpb.2007.0045"},{"key":"bibr70-1555412012440307","volume-title":"Nonreactive measures in the social sciences","author":"Webb E. J.","year":"1981","edition":"2"},{"key":"bibr72-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1460-2466.2009.01453.x"},{"key":"bibr71-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1555412006292616"},{"key":"bibr73-1555412012440307","first-page":"21","volume":"40","author":"Yamaguchi T.","year":"1991","journal-title":"Memoirs Osaka Kyoiku University IV, Education, psychology, special education and physical culture"},{"key":"bibr74-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7551\/mitpress\/7477.003.0010"},{"key":"bibr75-1555412012440307","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1468-2958.2007.00299.x"}],"container-title":["Games and Culture"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/1555412012440307","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/1555412012440307","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/1555412012440307","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,29]],"date-time":"2026-04-29T06:35:07Z","timestamp":1777444507000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/1555412012440307"}},"subtitle":["How Avatar Gender Affects Help-Seeking Behavior in an Online Game"],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2012,1]]},"references-count":71,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2012,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/1555412012440307"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1555412012440307","relation":{},"ISSN":["1555-4120","1555-4139"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1555-4120","type":"print"},{"value":"1555-4139","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2012,1]]}}}