Will Arangelov

Will is a Bulgarian graduate student at the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon. He is the first in my family to pursue a Ph.D. degree. His research lies at the intersection of game studies and media psychology. His dissertation, Leveling in the Golden Age: Intergenerational Play Aiding the Elderly in Their Quest for Video Game Participation, explores the role of gamer identity formation for elderly participants and examines the importance of gaming capital and intergenerational play as tools to reduce ageism stereotypes and increase video game adoption. His research is rooted in post-positivism and critical scholarship in the digital age.

His research involves three major areas: (a) examining the role of psychological factors on behaviors, attitudes, decision-making, and well-being in the gaming world; (b) exploring the importance of identity and representation in games; and (c) investigating the role of establishing collegiate esports programs on the popularity of gaming, branding, and sense of belonging among the college students. His work is interdisciplinary at its core, including psychology, where he examines attitudes, intentions, and behaviors; sociology, where he investigates the broader societal and cultural contexts that outline people’s decision-making; and marketing, where he looks at the financial side of consumer behavior across games.