Emotional Needs and Projection: A Study on the Phenomenon of Language Cosplay in Youth Subcultures

Abstract

Language cosplay is a niche subculture that involves role-playing through text. Initially relying heavily on social platforms like Baidu Tieba and QQ, it has shown a trend of expanding outwards in recent years. This paper aims to explore the underlying motivations behind this phenomenon and the changing emotional needs of contemporary youth reflected in it. The study constructs an analytical framework based on Freud's theory of projection and Cooley's theory of the "looking-glass self," and collects and analyzes data through in-depth interviews. The study finds that due to the rapid development of modern society and the accelerated pace of life, contemporary youth are experiencing increased pressure. Young people project themselves onto virtual characters and construct their "looking-glass self" through interactive feedback to improve self-awareness and gain emotional value. This research provides assistance to society and parents in providing correct and reasonable psychological support and guidance for the emotional needs of adolescents.