Dr Davies is one of 400,000 people worldwide who play the online computer game EverQuest, a fantasy world where people assume new identities and roam in a virtual environment.
Now he has combined his two passions - psychology and role-playing - to shatter many illusions about online gamers.
With two colleagues at Nottingham Trent University, he has co-authored a study into people who play games online.
The findings dismiss the stereotype of a pimple-faced teenager locked in his bedroom.
Instead, today's player is just as likely to be a well-paid professional - male or female - aged in their 40s
The report, based on surveys of thousands of online gamers, shows some players are spending a great deal of time on the pastime.