A new study found that male gamers who fare poorly in video games are literally "losers," as they are also found to raise more sexist comments while playing. Sexist behavior is common across various settings, specifically in online communities. Previous studies suggest that gender inequality and sexism is indeed rampant; however, the factors, which trigger such behavior as well as the reasons why only a subset of male possesses such behavior, are not clearly identified. The researchers of the new study hypothesized that disruptions that are headed by females trigger males, who perform poorly, to exhibit hostile behavior.
The researchers conducted the study by subjecting individuals to play an online video game that extracts factors that indicate authority, but presents data about gender, individual skills and performance. They analyzed the data obtained from a previous study conducted in 2013, which involved the recording of actual multiplayer matches of the video game Halo 3. The Xbox was connected to a converter of a computer, which captured the actual experience of the players while playing in the game. The researchers also connected an audio playback device to the controllers that play pre-recorded voice messages, giving the players the experience similar to speaking with another player in real time. The comments made by the players, as well as the performance of the focal players through the game's automatic matchmaking system were then correlated. The researchers then analyzed if the statements made by the players were related to the outcome of their game standings.
The findings of the study, published in the journal Public Library of Science (PLOS) One, show that out of the 163 games played, female and male manipulation were 82 and 81 respectively. Comments were noted in only 102 of the games played; 189 players spoke and all of them were males. The researchers found that the number of times that positive and negative comments was spoken is dependent on the level of skill being exhibited. The researchers also found that negative comments, specifically towards females, were more evident when the players are performing poorly in the game. With this, it may be said that the study backs up the idea of female-directed aggression. Males with poor skills respond to the threats being imposed by the females, while males who have excellent performance were more positive thus, implicating that they are gearing towards being supportive and possibly, attractive to the opposite sex.
The authors find that video games is a one-of-a-kind medium to test the differences in sexist behaviors and the events that influence alterations in such attitudes. As the study was able to present that hostile behavior towards females are triggered by poor performance and skills among males, the authors suggest that educating young male individuals that losing to females is not a social setback may decrease the rates of sexist comments and behaviors.
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