Esport: Becoming a professional - A qualitative study
Author
Iversen, Jonathan Smed
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2019
Submitted on
2019-05-31
Pages
76
Abstract
Esport vokser hastigt som konkurrencemedie, men psykologisk forskning halter efter. Denne masterafhandling undersøger, hvilke faktorer der påvirker overgangen fra casual gamer til professionel esportspiller. Med udgangspunkt i Wagners (2006) definition af esport gennemføres en narrativ litteraturgennemgang for at kortlægge eksisterende viden og identificere huller, herunder et markant fravær af studier fra Skandinavien. På den baggrund udføres dybdegående, fænomenologiske interviews med tre danske professionelle esportspillere, analyseret med Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Resultaterne peger på, at danske spillere oplever mange af de samme drivere og barrierer som beskrevet internationalt: målrettet selvforbedring og målsætning, individuel selvtillid, betydningen af sociale miljøer, støtte fra omgivelserne samt behovet for at balancere esport med privatlivet. Samtidig fremkommer to forhold, der skiller sig ud i den danske kontekst: et godt ry fremstår som afgørende for at få muligheder og opbygge en fanbase, og manglende tidlig forældreopbakning blev for informanterne en motivationsfaktor snarere end en hæmsko. Afhandlingen bidrager dermed med skandinavisk empiri, bekræfter centrale internationale fund og peger på behov for yderligere forskning i, hvordan omdømme og familieroller former karriereveje i esport.
Esport is expanding rapidly as a competitive medium, yet psychological research has not kept pace. This master’s thesis explores the factors that shape the transition from casual gamer to professional esports player. Guided by Wagner’s (2006) definition of esports, a narrative literature review maps current knowledge and highlights gaps, notably the absence of Scandinavian studies. Building on this, the study conducts in-depth phenomenological interviews with three Danish professional players, analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings indicate that Danish players encounter many of the same drivers and barriers reported internationally: deliberate self-improvement and goal setting, individual confidence, the role of social environments, the importance of support, and the need to balance esports with personal life. Two context-specific insights also emerged: maintaining a good reputation is crucial for gaining opportunities and building a fanbase, and the lack of early parental support functioned as a motivator rather than a deterrent for the informants. The thesis contributes Scandinavian evidence, corroborates key international themes, and underscores the need for further research on how reputation and family dynamics shape esports career pathways.
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