Aggression gamer resembles that of soldiers

Research from the University of Missouri shows that gamers’ aggression resembles that of soldiers. Overcoming a stranger elicits more testosterone than overcoming a familiar one, a reaction known from the battlefield.

From a study led by psychologist David Geary turns out that gamers in similar situations produce testosterone as soldiers on the battlefield. When a gamer shoots an unknown player, his testosterone level rises in the same way as a soldier. However, if the gamer shoots a friendly player, his testosterone level drops.

Geary divided 42 students into groups of three for his research and had them practice playing the shooting game Unreal Tournament 2004 for a week. None of the students knew each other beforehand and the practice was not just for mastering the game, but also to create a group feeling within the teams. Geary pitted teams against each other in Onslaught, a game format in Unreal Tournament that resembles capture the flag and is played with teams of three players. At the same time, he had other teams play Deathmatch, where the three team members competed against each other. Geary rewarded gains and losses. The winner received $45, the loser $15.

Afterwards, Geary gauged the testosterone levels of all players. They varied considerably. The value of the winning team in Onslaught had risen sharply, especially among players who had contributed significantly to the victory. At Deathmatch, the results were very different. There, the winner had the lowest testosterone value. According to Geary, this effect is known from soldiers. In a war situation, a high testosterone level benefits the soldier, because the opponent is a stranger who poses a danger to the group. This advantage does not apply to friends. The opponent is an acquaintance who poses no real danger. Friendship must be guarded. John Wagner, an anthropologist at the University of New Mexico, observed a similar effect in domino players. He did research on the Caribbean island of Dominica, where the game is played fanatically.