Social game cheaters more likely to pilfer your towels and jam

PopCap Games has released survey findings claiming that people who cheat in social games are three times more likely to be dishonest in real life.

The survey compiled feedback from over 1,200 adult consumers.

Nearly half (48%) of people who admit to cheating in social video games also admit to cheating in real life – compared to just 14% of those who don’t cheat in social video games.

From stealing hotel towels to cheating on their taxes, social game cheaters are nearly 3.5 times more likely to be dishonest in the real world than non-cheaters.

The report discovered that 118 million people regularly play social games in the US and UK – and of those, 11% of people who play social games in the UK cheat, compared to 7% of US players who cheat.

The report also found that although the total number of women playing social games beat men 55% to 45%, men are more likely to cheat in social games than women (54% to 46%). In addition, 72% of cheaters are under the age of 40.

“How we behave in virtual space and interact with others in social games often mirrors how we act in the real world,” said Professor Clay Routledge of North Dakota State University’s Department of Psychology.

“With more than 100 million people playing social games regularly, we can expect to see the full range of psychological characteristics represented in the social gaming population – even cheating.”

Key findings of the report include:

53% of people who cheat in social games report cheating on tests at school.
UK cheaters are significantly more likely to cheat on their taxes than US cheaters (58% versus 33%).
Overall, 51% of US people who cheat at social games report stealing towels, cups or other items from hotels (compared to just 14% of those who said they don’t cheat at social games). In the UK that rises to 60%.
51% of US people who cheat at social games report parking in handicap spaces despite not being eligible (compared to only 12% of those who don’t cheat in social games). In the UK, 48% of cheating respondents would take the handicapped space.
Overall 49% of US people who cheat at social games report cheating on a committed relationship. In the UK, that figure increases to 51%.
47% of people who cheat at social games report stealing packets of sugar, butter or jam from a restaurant.
43% of people who cheat at social games report stealing magazines from a waiting room.