Indirect effect of familiarity on survival: a path analysis on video game data

Abstract

Familiarity between members of the same group is predicted to play a role in many biological processes. Familiarity can facilitate recognition, aggregation, communication, coordination and cooperation between group members. We tested a path of interrelated hypotheses on the effect of familiarity on survival, resource acquisition, predator avoidance and cooperation. We predicted that individuals with familiar members in their group would have a higher survival, acquire resources faster, avoid predators more easily and perform more cooperative actions. We used data from an online video game (Dead by Daylight) where small groups of four players (i.e. prey) must exploit resource patches while avoiding a predator. Prey can help fellow prey when the predator catches them (cooperation). Using a video game as a study system provided access to a large behavioural data set that would otherwise be difficult to obtain in nature. Using path analysis, we found evidence that coordinated resource acquisition and helping behaviours increased with the number of familiar individuals in the group. However, more cooperative actions increased their encounters with the predator and thus reduced their survival. When accounting for all indirect effects of familiarity on survival (through resource acquisition, cooperation and predator–prey encounters), familiarity had a small indirect net positive effect on survival. • We used a huge data set from an online survival video game with prey and predators. • We tested the indirect effect of familiarity among group members on survival. • Familiarity increased predation risk, cooperation and coordinated resource acquisition. • Familiarity between players indirectly and slightly improved survival in the game.