The WoW factor: Psychopathic traits and behavior in a massive multiplayer online role-playing game

Abstract

The current study investigated the relationship between psychopathic traits and in-game behaviors in World of Warcraft (Kaplan, Pardo, & Chilton, 2004). In line with Hare's (1993) suggestion that psychopaths are “social predators” who exploit the cooperation of others we expected that players with psychopathic traits would engage in more exploitive behaviors in the game and that success in the game would be related to Factor 1 traits (interpersonal/affective). As expected, psychopathy was positively correlated with manipulation/cheating in (and outside of) the game, and negatively with altruism within the game. Finally, individuals with characters that had achieved a high level in World of Warcraft scored higher on the Interpersonal/Affective component of psychopathic traits.