Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Gamers, Study, Aggressive, Unreal, Tournament | Themes: The Internet, Software, Networking, Digital Entertainment
There's a study now claiming that gamers are actually less aggressive towards their friends in a multiplayer environment. Published by the science journal Evolution and Human Behavior, the study suggests that males who play "violent" multiplayer games are far more aggressive with strangers. For gamers who love to frag online, that's really a no-brainer: it seems to be the norm to curse at strangers camping around a super weapon's spawn point (and you know who you are) while remaining civil and somewhat playful in nature with clan members or good friends.
To verify the common knowledge, evolutionary psychologists at the University of Missouri (seemingly) wasted time and money by involving 42 "young men" in a testosterone test using using Epic's classic FPS, Unreal Tournament 2004. The test subjects weren't forced into separate rooms and given various magazines, but were divided into 14 teams of 3 each. The testosterone and cortisol levels were tested before competing against friends (within-group) in rounds of deathmatch, and then after the matches were over. The groups were then tested before and after games played with strangers.
So why are "young males" playing these games in the first place? It's a man juice thing apparently. "We suggest that violent video games appeal to young men because the games tap their evolved motivation to engage in male–male competition and engage the same systems that evolved to allow them to engage in military and political strategizing," the study reports. "The corresponding hypothesis--men will show the testosterone winner effect found with meaningful male–male competition--was partially supported for the between-group tournaments."
For some players, including this one, playing Unreal Tournament 2004 or some other deathmatch game doesn't necessarily mean that they're looking to show some testosterone domination. Games such as UT2K4 can be a stress reliever, a way to rid the tensions and aggravations of the day. What better way is there than to unload a round of rockets on an annoying camper? Honestly, the evolutionary psychologists could have saved time and money by just throwing up a poll on Facebook.
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I loved UT04. What a great game.
This is kinda try except i suck in most games so even when i try hard, i get max 1-2 kills more lol
I meant TRUE*
everyone knows video games are good for you
Um this is not new.... My mom told me for years as I grew up that strangers are evil and want to do naughty things to you. The games just reinforce that. Perverts BEWARE!!! hahaha
Aren't people usually less aggressive toward their friends versus strangers in real life, too?
huh? whoever did this study will be shocked to find out i kill someone every day... it's in the blood - gamer blood.
"in a testosterone test using using Epic's classic FPS"
really? using using?
But an interesting read nonetheless.
Never understood how people can equate playing violent videogames to violence in real life. I suppose those of the mainstream mentality would rather have people snap and perform violence on people for real than to have them relieve pent up stress in a virtual environment.
Never understood how people can equate playing violent videogames to violence in real life. I suppose those of the mainstream mentality would rather have people snap and perform violence on people for real than to have them relieve pent up stress in a virtual environment.
People, generally religious people, are always looking for something as being 'evil', especially when people would rather spend time with these activities instead of going to church. It used to be music for a long time, now it's video games that people blame for the at times disgustingly violent nature of society.
I hate strangers more than my friends? thanks for clearing that up study, actually I thought that was why they are my friends!
Ha. I'm equally aggressive to anyone. Me and my friends and family yell at each other all the time. I'm nicer to strangers who are on my team, unless they're purposely getting on my nerves. It also depends on if they're male or female. I wouldn't yell at my girlfriend.
Pfft...I usually hunt down my friends on purpose XD
Depends on the person. one of my friends is very confrontational but not agressive as far as fighting goes... I don't think gaming helps, the confrontation side sucks.
Sounds like these evolutionary psychologists were just trying to find a way to get paid to play UT2004.
This is true because most 12 year olds are getting addicted to Halo so now they "pwn" each other over Xbox Live.
well no wounder why i like unreal gold (predecessor to UT).
"It's a man juice thing apparently."
Lol
Most hardcore gamers are socially inept. Most nerds are less confrontal anyways. So add it together and voila, not biggy
they must mean phisycly
cause man my friends tear eachother up
what fun is shooting someone and teabagging
without making fun of them with extremely vulgar language
While I completely agree with it, this article is amazingly biased.
On a half off-topic note, I wish gaming was still considered a nerd thing. So many idiots messing up my fun... We're freakin' marketable now.
they must mean phisyclycause man my friends tear eachother upwhat fun is shooting someone and teabagging without making fun of them with extremely vulgar language
physicly I think
I always attempt to be kind to strangers, but I'm just a jackass to those I know...
Why do we play videogames?
"Me like fight!"
So why are "young males" playing these games in the first place? It's a man juice thing apparently.
The test is flawed really. They shouldn't test this behavour with males and unreal 2004! Unreal is a girls game. Not saying males don't play it - but girls seem to excell at it, while we just manage to play. All the good unreal players I know are female. So why even test on that? Test on team fortress or something instead, where reaction time beats skill.
The test is flawed really. They shouldn't test this behavour with males and unreal 2004! Unreal is a girls game. Not saying males don't play it - but girls seem to excell at it, while we just manage to play. All the good unreal players I know are female. So why even test on that? Test on team fortress or something instead, where reaction time beats skill.
WTF are you babbling on about? UT2K4 is a girls game? I could understand if we were talking about Animal Crossing or Viva Pinata, but not UT2K4.
WTF are you babbling on about? UT2K4 is a girls game? I could understand if we were talking about Animal Crossing or Viva Pinata, but not UT2K4.
And it's still a girl game. They're vastly better at playing it, and they seem to enjoy it more than we do.
And it's still a girl game. They're vastly better at playing it, and they seem to enjoy it more than we do.
I think your friends are the exception rather than the rule. UT involves super-quick reactions and a good grasp of spatial reasoning, the latter of which is one of the few things us guys are actually better at.
I don't even know any girls that even play UT!
one of my collegues wife is one of those ut chicks (doing turnaments and stuff), my best friend's ex girlfriend is another of them, and there are others. In comparison I don't know a single male friend who is playing that in a competition. Only at lan parties - and let's face it. They're a lot better at flatout than ut (and so am I ofc).
In any event, I still think it's a girls game. I don't know why exactly, but they just are better at it.
Hey at how many tps are u playing? (testosterones per second)
neiroatopelcc, that girls are better than you are or some friends of yours, doesnt mean its a girl's game. Ofcourse there will be girls that are freakin good at it, but vastly more guys that are good in ut.
Maybe a question can be checked with someone in clanbase or xfire or something where a lot of gamers show which gender is playing what games.
neiroatopelcc, that girls are better than you are or some friends of yours, doesnt mean its a girl's game. Ofcourse there will be girls that are freakin good at it, but vastly more guys that are good in ut. Maybe a question can be checked with someone in clanbase or xfire or something where a lot of gamers show which gender is playing what games.
Go there and find out for me then, if you have the time? Who knows, I could be wrong for once.
Meanwhile I'll continue gathering headaches whilst trying to install printers on a 64bit windows 2008 print server.