「能力」與「熱愛」：電競職業選手自我身份之建構歷程

Ability and passion: The self-identity construction of professional Esport's players

緒論：2022年中國電競產業的總體市場規模約為1579億元人民幣，用戶規模首次突破5億人。作為電競領域的核心群體，職業選手既享受著電子競技的發展紅利，亦面臨著來自社會大眾的認知偏差。學界對電競職業選手的既有研究成果多是以外部角度呈現從業特點和外部形象，鮮有從內部角度解讀其在從業過程中對自我身份的建構及潛在的特殊意義。方法：本研究依循建構型紮根理論的方法論引導，選取8名電競職業選手進行一對一的半結構式訪談來收集質性資料。轉謄完成的訪談逐字稿，經由初始編碼、聚焦編碼和理論抽樣三個分析環節，完成理論建構，並借助不斷比較、同儕討論、自我反思等方法提升研究的信實度。結果：電競職業選手對自我身份的建構是一個歷時性、流動性的過程，經歷了早期過渡、核心發展和消退重構三個階段。經由進一步分析後發現，「能力」與「熱愛」兩個要素的階段性變化是串聯電競職業選手自我身份建構的關鍵線索。結論：本研究對電競職業選手這一新興群體的自我身份建構進行理論化解釋，在一定程度上豐富了體育學領域的身份認同研究。此外，電競職業選手面臨的高職業風險和身份挑戰、身處不同電競項目中的職業選手狀態，以及電競產業中的性別議題，均為未來研究留下了探索空間。

Introduction: In 2022, the market value of the Chinese Esports industry reached approximately 157.9 billion yuan ($22.2 billion), with Esports users surpassing 500 million for the first time. Professional Esports players not only attract significant attention from fans and the market, enjoying rapid development in the burgeoning Chinese Esports industry, but they also face public misunderstandings, leading to identity tensions and challenges. In sports science, although numerous studies focus on personal characteristics, career development, and media portrayal of professional Esports players, there is limited research on their self-identity construction based on data collected directly from interviews with the players themselves. Methods: Drawing on constructivist grounded theory, this study examines qualitative data collected through eight one-on-one semi-structured interviews with professional Esports players. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The analytical process consisted of initial coding, focused coding, and theoretical sampling. To enhance the study’s trustworthiness, techniques such as constant comparison, peer debriefing, and reflexivity were also employed. Results: The self-identity construction of professional Esports players in China is a dynamic, diachronic process that unfolds in three main stages: the“earlytransitional stage,”the“core-developmental stage,”and the“slumping stage.”Additionally,“ability”and“passion”are identified as key factors influencing the self-identity construction of Chinese professional Esports players throughout their careers, with these factors varying across stages. Conclusion: This study provides a theoretical framework for understanding the self-identity construction of professional Esports players within the Chinese context, contributing to the broader body of identity research in sports. The study also reveals that professional Esports players face high career risks and identity challenges. Future research should explore the relationship between the identity construction of professional Esports players and the types of games that they play, as well as the gender to which they commit.