Heroic Narrative

Below are the narratives given to participants in the heroic and antiheroic conditions. Participants read these narratives prior to commencing gameplay.

Heroic narrative

Your character was born in a small town, to working class parents. As a child he was intelligent and well-behaved, and was liked by his peers and teachers. During adolescence, he developed into a talented athlete, and made a name for himself as a local footballer. He took on mentoring roles in and out of school, helping younger and/or less-able children develop their academic and sporting abilities. He was always very protective over his family and friends, and often intervened in situations where he perceived that the vulnerable were being taken advantage of. He has always been a positive member of, and attempted to contribute to his community. He looked up to his uncle who was a soldier, and was strongly motivated by his uncle’s courage in the face of adversity. When the current conflict broke out, he joined the army at the age of 25 because he loves his country and he felt like he was duty-bound to protect it. He does not enjoy combat or conflict but he is very proud to serve his country, and believes that conflict can be necessary in order to protect valuable principles such as equality, individual liberty and civil responsibility.

Antiheroic narrative

Your character was born in a small town, to working class parents. As a child he was intelligent but demonstrated behavioural problems, and often did not get along with his peers and teachers. During adolescence, he developed into a talented athlete, and made a name for himself as a local footballer. However, he consistently rejected offers to take on mentoring roles in and out of school, and rather than helping younger and/or less-able children develop their academic and sporting abilities he tended to mock them for their failures. He did not form strong ties with family or friends, and often used his intelligence and physical stature to take advantage of those weaker than him. He has never been a positive member of, or formed meaningful ties with his community. He looked up to his uncle who was a soldier, and desired the respect and prowess that his uncle’s war-time exploits had earned him. When the current conflict broke out, he joined the army at the age of 25 because he perceived it is an outlet where his aggressive tendencies could earn him notoriety. He enjoys combat and conflict and is motivated by personal reward, but cares little about serving his country, and protecting principles such as equality, individual liberty and civil responsibility.