We investigate how international conflicts affect the behavior of hostile individuals in online games. Using data from a large online chess forum, where players can see their opponents’ national flags, we observed behavioral responses based on the opponents’ nationality. Specifically, there is a significant decrease in the share of games played by hostile people, indicating a reluctance to engage. In addition, the players show a different strategic adjustment: they choose safe moves and show high persistence in games, which is evidenced by the length of the game and few deletions. This study provides unique insights into the impact of national conflicts on strategic cooperation in an online environment, providing contributions to further understanding human behavior during international conflicts.
That’s according to a new paper by Eren Bilen, Nino Doghonadze, Robizon Khubulashvili, and David Smerdon. Imagine if there is any tension in the Sino-Indian conflict before the WCC match of Ding vs. Gukesh…
For pointers I thank various readers of MR.
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