'Gamers' are more likely to engage in sexist and racist behaviour, study finds

If you're a member of a gaming clan online, a new study suggests you're more prone to socially harmful behaviour – especially if you play Call of Duty. Researchers surveyed more than 1,000 US gamers on their beliefs and personality traits, as well as their level of'identity fusion' with other gamers. Identity fusion is a psychological phenomenon that causes a deep sense of alignment with a group or cause, and is particularly prevalent among gamers. The researchers found links between identity fusion and multiple undesirable traits, including sexism, racism and recent aggressive behaviour. The research also found that specific gaming communities – namely, Call of Duty players – can encourage'strongly fused' gamers to embrace anti-social tendencies more than others.