อีสปอร์ต: กระบวนการสู่ความศิวิไลซ์ ความสัมพันธ์เชิงพึ่งพิงและเส้นทางสู่ความเป็นนักกีฬาอาชีพในประเทศไทย

Abstract

This thesis research aims to study the phenomenon of esports. This research investigates this phenomenon through the E-League Thailand, Thailand's first professional league. The research purposes are to understand the changing leisure culture of people in a modern society, to comprehend the professional development process of esports athletes, and to illuminate e-sportsmen's identities. The identities of esports athletes in relation to the gaming community are examined through the concepts of interdependence, self-image, and self-control. Studies have shown that gaming can be considered as a leisure activity in the modern world. Furthermore, it also creates experiences and emotions which cannot be expressed in everyday life. Since the emergence of E-League Thailand has changed the meaning and image of gaming from a leisure-based activity to a professional job. The process of becoming a professional e-sports player can be divided into 5 stages: the enjoying, struggling, achieving, slumping, and recovering stages. Finally, the expressed identities and self-images of the professional players revolved around the values of sportsmanship. They developed their self-control by avoiding inappropriate behaviors.