Year of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Communication Studies

Department or School/College

Communication Studies

Committee Chair

Gregory Larson

Commitee Members

Gregory Larson, Joel Iverson, Michael Cassens

Keywords

League of Legends, Toxicity, Identity, Crystalized Selves, Conflict, Gaming

Subject Categories

Broadcast and Video Studies | Organizational Communication

Abstract

Toxicity is an inevitable part of online gaming for many individuals that participate in the activity. How individuals navigate this behavior affects not only the community but the players themselves. In essence, online world environments affect the identity of the individual within them. The magic circle separates the gaming world and the real world into two separate and distinct places, however crystalized selves posits that the identity of an individual in one sphere is part of the individual in another. Understanding the connection between these two ideas gives rise to the question of whether or not toxic behaviors in a game carry outside of the game. This study aimed at defining toxicity from the point of view of gamers in League of Legends and then determined whether or not the behaviors from in the game carried outside of the game. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty individuals currently a part of the game League of Legends. Results indicated that participants view toxicity in unique ways but at the same time all share communal definitions of what is toxic. Further, behaviors and identities in game were not as separate as the magic circle describes, with participants indicating that their online identities and behaviors converged with the real world the older they get. Overall, the findings of the study suggest that the real world and play world are more connected than some theories suggest, and that toxicity is a phenomenon that is as unique as it is universal.

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© Copyright 2023 Jeremy Thomas Miner