Understanding Hostile Behavior in Competitive Play – Ruotsalainen & Meriläinen (ERNC25) скачать в хорошем качестве

Understanding Hostile Behavior in Competitive Play – Ruotsalainen & Meriläinen (ERNC25)

This presentation by Maria Ruotsalainen from the University of Jyväskylä and Mikko Meriläinen from Tampere University examines hostile behavior in competitive gaming, with particular relevance for esports contexts where such behavior is frequently reported and often normalized. Building on prior research showing that hostility is especially prevalent in competitive play, the authors address a key gap in the literature: the perspectives and motivations of those who engage in hostile behavior themselves. While much existing work focuses on victims, this study shifts attention toward perpetrators in order to better understand the emotional, cultural, and situational mechanisms that sustain toxic conduct in games and esports. The research draws on two empirical studies conducted in collaboration with the Finnish Non-toxic – non-discriminatory gaming culture project (2017–2023). The first study involved thematic analysis of individual and group interviews with 12 participants conducted at a Finnish gaming event. The second study analyzed open-ended responses from an online survey of 95 Finnish players, focusing on players’ self-reflections on their own negative or hostile behavior. Although the studies were not limited exclusively to esports titles, competitive games and esports environments featured heavily in participants’ accounts and form the central lens of this presentation. Findings demonstrate that the boundary between victim and perpetrator is often blurred: players may experience harassment while also engaging in hostile behavior themselves. Rather than stemming from a single cause, hostile behavior emerges from multiple overlapping factors. In competitive play, emotional drivers such as frustration, stress, and performance pressure play a significant role, with players sometimes directing negative affect toward teammates. Importantly, many participants also expressed regret and a desire to change their behavior. The study further identifies a distinct form of hostility termed “banal toxicity.” Unlike emotionally charged outbursts, banal toxicity consists of habitual, normalized hostile behavior that is reproduced through gaming norms, online disinhibition, and the perception of games as spaces detached from everyday social accountability. While often minimized, this form of toxicity is shown to be particularly harmful to marginalized players. Overall, the presentation argues that understanding the emotional and normative dimensions of hostile behavior is essential for developing more sustainable competitive game and esports cultures. Addressing toxicity requires not only sanctions and moderation, but also interventions that acknowledge regret, habit, affect, and the cultural norms shaping player behavior. Keywords: hostile behavior, toxicity, affect, norms, online disinhibition About the ERN Conference 2025: The Esports Research Network Conference 2025 took place online from November 12–14, 2025 as a continuous, 72-hour global livestream. Guided by the theme “Future Realities: Esports as a Global Lab,” the event explored how esports serves as a living laboratory for understanding digital transformation across education, media, technology, and society. This innovative digital-first format followed the sun across three regional hubs, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania & Michigan State University (Americas), Staffordshire University (EMEA), and UNSW Sydney (Asia-Pacific), creating a nonstop, interconnected academic experience available to participants worldwide. This ambitious production was made possible through the support of Corsair for Business, whose Elgato technology powered high-quality broadcasting and seamless livestreaming across all three hubs. ERNC25 continues the network’s mission to unite scholars, practitioners, and students while fostering open, global collaboration in esports research. Full abstracts for all presentations can be viewed in the official Book of Abstracts at: https://book.esportsresearch.net Website: https://esportsresearch.net