Dual-process model and competitiveness as predictors of in-game toxicity

The objective of this research was to gain a better understanding of in-game toxicity by measuring general harassment in computer games, sexual harassment in computer games, and video game sexism. A proposed dual-process model was used with social dominance orientation and right-wing authoritarianism as the main predictors and benevolent sexism and hostile sexism as additional independent variables. A total of 834 participants, of which 40% were female, completed an online survey. The data was analysed using t-tests and a structural equation model. Social dominance orientation was found to be a better predictor than right-wing authoritarianism, consistent with previous research. The variance of video game sexism was explained by 50%, while the variance of general harassment in computer games and sexual harassment in computer games was explained by 8% and 13%, respectively. Competitive game players had statistically higher scores on all three dependent variable scales.