Award Date
May 2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Communication
First Committee Member
David Gruber
Second Committee Member
Donovan Conley
Third Committee Member
Rebecca Rice
Fourth Committee Member
P.G. Schrader
Number of Pages
53
Abstract
This study explores how players verbally and affectively connect the emotional impact of playing as crewmates or imposters to the game design of Among Us. Through video analysis of gameplay sessions and follow-up focus group interviews, the research highlights how crewmates exhibit heightened affective and gestural responses when making accusations or facing eliminations, while imposters adopt a more controlled, neutral demeanor to maintain deception. The study identifies moments where players' emotional and physical reactions peak, offering insights into how Among Us fosters complex emotional investments through its mechanics. These findings contribute to game studies by demonstrating how affect and role embodiment shape player interactions and decision-making in social deception games.
Keywords
affect; affective constitutive rhteoric; communication studies; rhetoric; rpgs; video games
Disciplines
Communication
Degree Grantor
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Language
English
Repository Citation
Sadorra, Erica Jane, "There Is an Imposter Among Us: An Affective Constitutive Rhetorical Study on RPGS" (2025). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 5325.
https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations/5325
Rights
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