Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Maladaptive emotion regulation and neutralization techniques among struggling multiplayer online battle arena players

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Not all multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game players are able to meet the achievement and social goals. In response, they may engage in aggressive behavior towards their teammates. This study uses the emotion regulation (ER) theory and the neutralization theory as theoretical frameworks to determine whether and compare MOBA players who adopt maladaptive ER strategies and neutralization techniques when facing the negative situation of being unable to meet their achievement (achievement scenario) or social (social scenario) game goals inadvertently worsen the situation and affect their expectations during gameplay and intention to continue playing the game. A partial least squares analysis of 333 survey returns (166 and 167 for achievement and social scenarios respectively) revealed that the use of maladaptive ER strategies and neutralization techniques may cause MOBA players to continue to be or in a worse situation as the game continues, particularly if the catastrophizing ER strategy is adopted and the players prioritize social goals over achievement goals. Notably, even players with social goals who have been hurt by their teammates continue to hold social game expectations. The condemnation of the condemner neutralization technique is particularly harmful to players who value the social aspect of MOBA games. Besides being unable to eradicate the issues leading to the negative situation, it lowers social game expectations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data are available under request to the corresponding author.

References

  • Aldao, A., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2010). Specificity of cognitive emotion regulation strategies: A transdiagnostic examination. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48, 974–983.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Amjad, A., & Dasti, R. (2022). Humor styles, emotion regulation and subjective well-being in young adults. Current Psychology, 41, 6326–6335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakir-Demir, T., Berument, S. K., & Akkaya, S. (2021). Nature connectedness boosts the bright side of emotion regulation, which in turn reduces stress. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 76, 101642.

  • Balaji, M. S., Roy, S. K., & Quazi, A. (2017). Customers’ emotion regulation strategies in service failure encounters. European Journal of Marketing, 51(5/6), 960–982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berger, J. (2014). Word of mouth and interpersonal communication: A review and directions for future research. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 24(4), 586–607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brunner, T. A. (2014). Applying neutralization theory to fair trade buying behavior. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 38, 200–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Weintraub, J. K. (1989). Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 267–283.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chatzidakis, A., Hibbert, S., & Smith, A. (2007). Why people don’t take their concerns about fair trade to the supermarket: The role of neutralisation. Journal of Business Ethics, 74, 89–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, L., Li, W., Zhai, Q., & Smyth, R. (2014). Understanding personal use of the Internet at work: An integrated model of neutralization techniques and general deterrence theory. Computers in Human Behavior, 38, 220–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chin, W. W. (1998). The partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling. In G. A. Marcoulides (Ed.), Modern methods for business research (pp. 295–358). Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chu, A. M. Y. (2021). Illegal waste dumping under a municipal solid waste charging scheme: Application of the neutralization theory. Sustainability, 13, 9279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. (2001). States of denial: Knowing about atrocities and suffering. Polity Press.

  • Cole, D. A., Nick, E. A., & Pulliam, K. A. (2020). Are massively multiplayer online role-playing games healthy or not and why? Preliminary support for a compensatory social interaction model. Computers in Human Behavior, 102, 57–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, S. M., Shawcroft, J., Gale, M., Gentile, D. A., Etherington, J. T., Holmgren, H., & Stockdale, L. (2021). Tantrums, toddlers and technology: Temperament, media emotion regulation, and problematic media use in early childhood. Computers in Human Behavior, 120, 106762.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • De Mesquita Neto, J. A., & Becker, K. (2018). Relating conversational topics and toxic behavior effects in a MOBA game. Entertainment Computing, 26, 10–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Pelsmacker, P., Dens, N., & Verberckmoes, S. (2019). How ad congruity and interactivity affect fantasy game players’ attitude toward in-game advertising. Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, 20(1), 55–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dechant, M., Poeller, S., Johanson, C., Wiley, K., & Mandryk, R. L. (2020). In-game and out-of-game social anxiety influences player motivations, activities, and experiences in MMORPGs. Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 1–14.

  • Dindar, M. (2018). Do people play MMORPGs for extrinsic or intrinsic rewards? Telematics & Informatics, 35(7), 1877–1886.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowd, T. (2023). Toxic behavior is worsening in online games—And players are increasingly losing patience. The MessengerTech. https://themessenger.com/tech/toxic-behavior-cheating-hacking-bullying-call-of-duty-fortnite-rising-players-avoiding-study. Accessed 15 June 2023.

  • Elhai, J. D., Tiamiyu, M. F., Weeks, J. W., Levine, J. C., Picard, K. J., & Hall, B. J. (2018). Depression and emotion regulation predict objective smartphone use measured over one week. Personality and Individual Differences, 133, 21–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garnefski, N., & Kraaij, V. (2006). Cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire: Development of a short 18-item version (CERQ-short). Personality and Individual Differences, 41(6), 1045–1053.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garnefski, N., Kraaij, V., & Spinhoven, P. (2001). Negative life events, cognitive emotion regulation and emotional problems. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 1311–1327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garnefski, N., van den Kommer, T., Kraaij, V., Teerds, J., Legerstee, J., & Onstein, E. (2002). The relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and emotional problems. European Journal of Personality, 16, 403–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gross, J. J. (2015). Emotion regulation: Current status and future prospects. Psychological Inquiry, 26, 1–26.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., & Tatham, R. L. (2006). Multivariate data analysis. Pearson Prentice Hall.

  • Hair, J. F., Hult, G., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (2nd ed.). Sage.

  • Hamari, J., & Keronen, L. (2017). Why do people play games? A meta-analysis. International Journal of Information Management, 37, 125–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, L. C., & Dumas, A. (2009). Online consumer misbehaviour: An application of neutralization theory. Marketing Theory, 9(4), 379–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hazani, M. (1991). The universal applicability of the theory of neutralization: German youth coming to terms with the Holocaust. Crime, Law and Social Change, 15, 135–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2016). Testing measurement invariance of composites using partial least squares. International Marketing Review, 33(3), 405–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horwood, S., & Anglim, J. (2021). Emotion regulation difficulties, personality, and problematic smartphone use. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 24(4), 275–281.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ireland, M. J., Clough, B. A., & Day, J. J. (2017). The cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire: Factorial, convergent, and criterion validity analyses of the full and short versions. Personality and Individual Differences, 110, 90–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, X., Moreno, J., & Ng, Z. (2022). Examining the interplay of emotion regulation strategies, social stress, and gender in predicting life satisfaction of emerging adults. Personality and Individual Differences, 185, 111255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, D., Nacke, L. E., & Wyeth, P. (2015). All about that base: Differing player experiences in video game genres and the unique case of MOBA games. In W. Woo, & K. Inkpen, K (Eds.) Proceedings of the 33rd Annual ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 2265–2274). Association for Computing Machinery.

  • Kang, K., Lu, J., Guo, L., & Zhao, J. (2020). How to improve customer engagement: A comparison of playing games on personal computers and on mobile phones. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 15(2), 76–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiefer, R., Goncharenko, S., Forkus, S. R., Contractor, A. A., LeBlanc, N., & Weiss, N. H. (2023). Role of positive emotion regulation strategies in the association between childhood trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder among trauma-exposed individuals who use substances. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 36(3), 366–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klockars, C. B. (1974). The professional fence. Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, M. C., & Tsai, T. R. (2010). What drives people to continue to play online games? An extension of technology model and theory of planned behavior. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 26(6), 601–620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J., Ko, D. W., & Lee, H. (2019). Loneliness, regulatory focus, inter-personal competence, and online game addiction: A moderated mediation model. Internet Research, 29(2), 381–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., & Agur, C. (2023). “After all, they don’t know me” Exploring the psychological mechanisms of toxic behavior in online games. Games and Culture, 18(5), 598–621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Z., Wang, X., & Chen, J. (2021). Why can’t I stop using social media problematically? The impact of norm and neutralization from the regulatory focus perspective. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 25(2), 204–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lou, T., Zu, Y., & Zhu, L. (2020). A study of motivation and team member selection in online games. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 32(6), 1286–1304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maruna, S., & Copes, H. (2005). What have we learned from five decades of neutralization research? Crime and Justice: A Review of Research, 32, 221–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, J. P., & Moores, E. (2007). The development of a short scale measuring aggressiveness and anger in competitive athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 8, 179–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McComb, S. E., & Mills, J. S. (2021). Young women’s body image following upwards comparison to Instagram models: The role of physical appearance perfectionism and cognitive emotion regulation. Body Image, 38, 49–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melero, S., Orgilés, M., Espada, J. P., & Morales, A. (2021). How does depression facilitate psychological difficulties in children? The mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 28(2), 384–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minor, W. W. (1981). Techniques of neutralization: A reconceptualization and empirical examination. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 18(2), 295–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mora-Cantallops, M., & Sicilia, M. Á. (2018a). MOBA games: A literature review. Entertainment Computing, 26, 128–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mora-Cantallops, M., & Sicilia, M. Á. (2018b). Exploring player experience in ranked League of Legends. Behaviour & Information Technology, 37(12), 1224–1236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nerenberg, L. (2008). Elder abuse prevention: Emerging trends and promising strategies. Springer.

  • Panayiotou, G., Panteli, M., & Leonidou, C. (2021). Coping with the invisible enemy: The role of emotion regulation and awareness in quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 19, 17–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, M. J., & Tomita, S. K. (1997). Elder abuse and neglect: Causes, diagnosis, and interventional strategies. Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray-Yol, E., Ulbe, S., Temel, M., & Altan-Atalay, A. (2022). Interpersonal emotion regulation strategies: Can they function differently under certain conditions? Current Psychology, 41, 2364–2371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rey, L., Neto, F., & Extremera, N. (2020). Cyberbullying victimization and somatic complaints: A prospective examination of cognitive emotion regulation strategies as mediators. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 20, 135–139.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rodas, J. A., Jara-Rizzo, M. F., Greene, C. M., Moreta-Herrera, R., & Oleas, D. (2022). Cognitive emotion regulation strategies and psychological distress during lockdown due to COVID-19. International Journal of Psychology, 57(3), 315–324.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rozgonjuk, D., & Elhai, J. D. (2021). Emotion regulation in relation to smartphone use: Process smartphone use mediates the association between expressive suppression and problematic smartphone use. Current Psychology, 40, 3246–3255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salehi-Esfahani, S., & Ozturk, A. B. (2018). Negative reviews: Formation, spread, and halt of opportunistic behavior. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 74, 138–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar, A., & Sarkar, J. G. (2023). Gift of fantasy: Investigating how fantasy in digital game impacts game brand immersion. Information Technology & People, 36(2), 661–682.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarstedt, M., Henseler, J., & Ringle, C. M. (2011). Multi-group analysis in partial least squares (PLS) path modeling: Alternative methods and empirical results. Advances in International Marketing, 22, 195–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlenker, B. R., Pontari, B. A., & Christopher, A. N. (2001). Excuses and character: Personal and social implications of excuses. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5(1), 15–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, T. G., Hamari, J., Kesharwani, A., & Tak, P. (2022). Understanding continuance intention to play online games: Roles of self-expressiveness, self-congruity, self-efficacy, and perceived risk. Behaviour & Information Technology, 41(2), 348–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shim, J. Y., Kim, T. H., & Kim, S. W. (2014). Decision support of bad player identification in MOBA games using PageRank based evidence accumulation and normal distribution based confidence interval. International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Engineering, 9(8), 13–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shores, K., Swanenburg, K. L., Kraut, R., & Riedl, J. (2014). The identification of deviance and its impact on retention in a multiplayer game. CSCW '14: Proceedings of the 17th ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work & Social Computing, 1356–1365.

  • Silic, M., Barlow, J. B., & Back, A. (2017). A new perspective on neutralization and deterrence: Predicting shadow IT usage. Information & Management, 54, 1023–1037.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siponen, M., & Vance, A. (2010). Neutralization: New insights into the problem of employee information systems security policy violations. MIS Quarterly, 34(3), 487–502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siponen, M., Vance, A., & Willison, R. (2012). New insights into the problem of software piracy: The effects of neutralization, shame, and moral beliefs. Information & Management, 49(7–8), 334–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siponen, M. T., Puhakainen, P., & Vance, A. (2020). Can individuals’ neutralization techniques be overcome? A field experiment on password policy. Computers & Security, 88, 101617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, L. A., Gibbs, M., & Arnold, M. (2021). Ludic Ethics: The ethical negotiations of players in online multiplayer games. Games and Culture, 16(6), 719–742.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stockdale, L., & Coyne, S. M. (2018). Video game addiction in emerging adulthood: Cross-sectional evidence of pathology in video game addicts as compared to matched healthy controls. Journal of Affective Disorders, 225(1), 265–272.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sykes, G., & Matza, D. (1957). Techniques of neutralization: A theory of delinquency. American Sociological Review, 22, 664–670.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T’ng, S. T., & Pau, K. (2021). Identification of avatar mediates the associations between motivations of gaming and Internet gaming disorder among the Malaysian youth. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 19, 1346–1361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tambs, K., & Moum, T. (1993). How well can a few questionnaire items indicate anxiety and depression? Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 87, 364–367.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, W. K., & Chen, L. M. (2022). That’s not my fault: Excuses given by players exhibiting in-game intra-team aggressive behavior in online games. Computers in Human Behavior, 127, 107045.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, W. K., & Fan, C. H. (2023). Does destination advertisement affect travel motivation, emotion regulation, and visit intention formation? Service Business, 17(2), 579–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, W. K., Yeh, Y. D., & Chen, S. H. (2017). The role of social interaction element on intention to play MMORPG in the future: From the perspective of leisure constraint negotiation process. Games and Culture, 12(1), 28–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teh, P. L., Ahmed, P. K., & D’Arcy, J. (2015). What drives information security policy violations among banking employees? Insights from neutralization and social exchange theory. Journal of Global Information Management, 23(1), 44–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thacker, S., & Griffiths, M. D. (2012). An exploratory study of trolling in online video gaming. International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning, 2(4), 17–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thavamuni, S., Khalid, M. N. A., & Iida, H. (2023). What makes an ideal team? Analysis of popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games. Entertainment Computing, 44, 100523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuna, E. (2021). Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Behavioral Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (BERQ). The Journal of General Psychology, 148(4), 414–430.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uba, C. D., & Chatzidakis, A. (2016). Understanding engagement and disengagement from pro-environmental behaviour: The role of neutralization and affirmation techniques in maintaining persistence in and desistance from car use. Transportation Research Part a: Policy and Practice, 94, 278–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulsperger, J. S., Hodges, S. H., & Paul, J. (2010). Pirates on the plank: Neutralization theory and the criminal downloading of music among Generation Y in the era of late modernity. Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture, 17(1), 124–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urbach, N., & Ahlemann, F. (2010). Structural equation modelling in information systems research using partial least squares. Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application, 11, 5–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uttley, J. (2019). Power analysis, sample size, and assessment of statistical assumptions: Improving the evidential value of lighting research. LEUKOS, 15(2–3), 143–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vance, A., Siponen, M. T., & Straub, D. W. (2020). Effects of sanctions, moral beliefs, and neutralization on information security policy violations across cultures. Information & Management, 57, 103212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villani, D., Carissoli, C., Triberti, S., Marchetti, A., Gilli, G., & Riva, G. (2018). Videogames for emotion regulation: A systematic review. Games for Health Journal, 7(2), 85–99.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vitell, S. J., & Grove, S. J. (1987). Marketing ethics and the techniques of neutralization. Journal of Business Ethics, 6(6), 433–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xia, B., Wang, H., & Zhou, R. (2019). What contributes to success in MOBA games? An empirical study of Defense of the Ancients 2. Games and Culture, 14(5), 498–522.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, C., Gelberg, H., & DeRubeis, R. J. (2022). Emotion regulation strategy correlates with discrete state emotion in major depression. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 35(6), 637–648.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yalcınkaya-Alkar, O. (2020). Is self esteem mediating the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and depression? Current Psychology, 39, 220–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yee, N. (2006). Motivations for play in online games. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9(6), 772–775.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yee, N., Ducheneaut, N., & Nelson, L. (2012). Online gaming motivations scale: Development and validation. Proceedings of the ACM International Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2012), 5–10 May 2012, Austin, TX, NY: ACM, 2803–2806.

  • Zhang, F., & Kaufman, D. (2015). The impacts of social interactions in MMORPGs on older adults’ social capital. Computers in Human Behavior, 51, 495–503.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H., Chen, W., Zhang, Y., Buhalis, D., & Lu, L. (2018). National park visitors’ car-use intention: A norm-neutralization model. Tourism Management, 69, 97–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang, X. Y., Wong, D. F. K., Ng, T. K., Leung, J. T. Y., Wong, P. W. C., & Kendall, P. C. (2020). The differential functions of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in Chinese adolescents with different levels of anxiety problems in Hong Kong. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29, 3433–3446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Global Business and Strategy, National Taiwan Normal University, No.31, Shida Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei City, 106, Taiwan

    Wee-Kheng Tan & Yun-Chi Chang

Authors
  1. Wee-Kheng Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yun-Chi Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wee-Kheng Tan.

Ethics declarations

Approval

We introduced the research purpose and goals to the participants and seek their approval.

Consent to participate

All participants have given their consent to participate in the study.

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

Descriptions of the achievement and social scenarios

figure a

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tan, WK., Chang, YC. Maladaptive emotion regulation and neutralization techniques among struggling multiplayer online battle arena players. Curr Psychol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-05731-0

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-05731-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation