Why do people react to their character’s actions in video games physically, as if it was actually happening to them?

Question

Best example would be an adrenaline rush when just barely making a jump or avoiding enemy groups in a platforming game.

In: Other

Answer 1

The purpose of video games, in psychology terms, is to fulfill an evolved need we as humans have, that we no longer have a survival purpose for. That is the need for conflict & drama in our lives. Our lives used to be full of it in tribal times & enjoying solving these problems helped w our survival. Now in a boring world of ultra stability, we use video games & movies as our need for conflict outlets.