THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A CHEATER
Study Compiled by Archmage Ioannes
Preface
Over the period of 3 months, I have composed an extensive study on
cheaters and cheating, and have arrived at various conclusions that I
now wish to make public. Unlike my other essays and commentaries --
all focusing on the cyberculture which has been created as a result
of Diablo and battle.net, this work, "Mens Trampotis", or
"Psychology of a Cheater" focuses on the out of character
implications and causes of cheating.
The purpose of this essay is neither to condone nor condemn cheating
in any way, but to allow us to understand the mind of the cheater and
help cheaters move away from denial to self-realization so that they
can be *proud* of whom they are.
PHASE I: Impatience
The cheater is impatient. We all know this; we enter Diablo and
battle.net every day and work for hours on end to build up our
characters through blood, sweat, and tears. After about 60 days of
this monotony, we hit level 30, and feel a glorious sense of
accomplishment -- We're *proud* of our characters. Yes, we're proud
of our useless amulets and rings which barely even boost our scores,
because we EARNED them -- we didn't hack, nor dupe them in any way;
its OUR accomplishment.
The cheater has a very different approach, however. Cheaters are
usually power-hungry -- they want success, and they want it now, all
at once, without having to put forth any effort for it. By resorting
to hacks, dups, and cheating programs, they can accomplish just this -
- a momentary advancement for their two seconds of glory. The cheater
is not willing to work for what other characters have honorably
accomplished.
The Failure of Impatience
Because of this act - not desiring to work for the stats, items, and
levels; the Cheater ends up actually accomplishing the exact
opposite. Rather than obtain the respect that they so desperately
want -- the attention that their psychologically depraved minds so
urgently seek -- they, in fact, are constantly ignored, disgraced,
and ostracized from the 'honorable' gamer community. A lack of
commitment to a goal ends in an individual not obtaining the goal,
but, rather, alienating himself or herself from the goal permanently.
PHASE II: The Quest for Undisciplined Power
We've already examined why the cheater cheats -- the cheater is in
need of attention and power. Psychologically, one can deduce that a
deprived attention complex has been present in the cyber-character of
the individual throughout his/her gaming experiences; this being
typical of a suppressed desire or Maslowan need. The cheater,
however, is desperate for power without the discipline required to
obtain it.
Power obtained without the discipline ends up in misuse of that
power. In order for one to gain power, one must respect that power,
earn the respect of the power, and then, be forever a slave to the
'higher motives' of that power.
As a mage, I have worked to get all of my spells up to their maximum
level (Level 15, naturally). As a result of this, I have learned to
appreciate every single spell -- from flash, to firebolt, to golem to
manashield -- all spells have proven extremely useful. This, in turn,
has granted me a tactical advantage -- strategically, I am aware of
what spells to hot-key and what spells work best in certain
situations. I know that, if all else fails, rip out a Chain
Lightning, or for a more subtle approach -- stone the enemies from
afar.
The cheater will never gain this knowledge. Instead, players become
upset with someone walks in with an AAA (Archangel Staff of
Apocalypse hack) and starts blowing away all of the monsters. This,
in reality shows only two things: (1) The cheater is not disciplined
to appreciate the true beauty behind strategic gaming, and (2) The
cheater is ruining the enjoyment of the game by trying to 'show-off'
and 'gain attention' through 'wielding power'.
Why No "True" Power is Held
The Cheater will never hold this true power, simply because there is
no power to hold. Power is relative -- I can say that I think your
character is powerful because she's a level 42 Rogue and can kick
ass. On the otherhand, I can also say that a character is powerful
because, although she's a level 2 Rogue, she uses her bow to the best
of her ability -- crawling in and out of the shadows, and slaying her
foes skillfully. True power can never be controlled -- others must
acknowledge that you have it; and no one will ever acknowledge the
cheater.
PHASE III: Depression and Low Self-Esteem
Cheaters, inherently, have low self-esteem and are extremely
insecure. In fact, this is the most typical trait of the cheater --
they become easily frustrated when they can't beat that Magma Demon
in the caves on Nightmare level with a level 22 Fighter, and then
they resort to 'cheating' -- getting a hacked weapon, or duping a
couple of items to boost their abilities and WHAM - suddenly they can.
Oddly enough, although this provides temporary relief to defeating
the monster, the self-esteem of the individual is never repaired, and
the cheater moves further into depression -- feeling insecurity in
his inability to slaughter even the simplest of foes. Cheaters, in
this capacity, make crappy companions on the 'net since they, who
first were insecure and merely "Felt" that they were unable,
truly, at this point, are unable to play without some sort of cheat,
whether it be duping, hacking, or backing up a character.
PHASE IV: The Neverending Cycle of Denial
The final trait of the psychological status of a cheater is the
incomprehensible drive for the cheater to be a hypocritical, habitual
liar. Once cheating, the cheater will admit that he knows that
cheating is wrong; but, sooner or later, the cheater will realize
that he's not having too much fun when people look at him as a
cheater.
For some unexplainable reason, after a long period of time (it
differs from person to person), the cheater self-conditions himself
to believe that he, truly, is NO cheater, and that he is justified in
cheating because its "all in the pursuit of fun". What the
cheater fails to realize, in this form of self-denial, is that all
fun is eliminated through cheating since the very nature of the game
has no challenge, no purpose, and no enjoyment. This mindless
justification of the act is truly of the lowest calliber as it brings
the cheater to the most difficult, almost untreatable stage of
cheating -- psychological conditioning and falsehood; that is, the
Cheater honestly believes that he isn't cheating, or, if he is, that
its okay for HIM to do it, but not for anyone else. In fact, the
cheater will be insulted when others accuse him of cheating, and even
more so when someone cheats while playing with him over the 'net.
THE SOLUTION
Upon reading this, one must understand that Cheating is not a choice -
it is a psychological mishap. While all honorable players have been
tempted with the quick, easy 'access' to power, they have all chosen
to examine glory and power for what it really is -- relative and
"earned". Turning away from cheating, players evolve to a
level of "Honorable Adventurers", whereas Cheaters remain,
forever, infants and slaves of their own psychological conditions.
The only true way to end cheating is not through some blizzard patch
(because cheaters WILL always find a way -- I can guarantee you that;
just three hours after this last patch, we've had dozens of new
cheats come out), nor is it, contrary to popular belief, through a
guild. On previous treatises, I've discussed my opinion on guilds and
how I firmly believe that they contribute to the chaos and disorder
on battle.net -- with that aside, guilds do not change the nature of
the cheater -- they merely separate cheater from noncheater (and many
times, its hard to tell them apart on the surface).
The only solution is for the cheater to admit and come to realization
about his cheating. If he's "proud that he's an incompetent
player, and must resort to cheating while indirectly eliminating the
fun of the game from himself and his peers", then, the cheater is
certainly fit to remain cheating; but since it is the common nature
of all of mankind to succeed on his/her own volition, the cheater
must admit that he is in Psychological confusion. The simplest
solution is to delete the cheated characters and start a fresh, new
one.
BLIZZARD'S BOLD STEP...
On the rumor side, I've heard that Blizzard may soon be doing a
character-by-character check to see which ones seem
"modified" and may even delete those whom they can prove,
beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they've been 'cheated'. (Possession
of hacked/duped items, etc.) Although this is only a rumor, it would
be a good step to having the cheaters examine themselves objectively
momentarilly -- cheaters are far too caught up in the relentless
pursuit of attention and power; something that they will never
obtain, but that they are trapped in their endless cycle of
depression of deceit.
IN CONCLUSION...
The Cheater is a unique individual. We don't experience cheaters in
Real Life because there is a clear-cut way; life and death, black or
white; right or wrong. Because of the very nature of computer
programming, and the imperfections of code, programmer, and human
perception -- we allow for uncontrollable anomalies to be born into
existence. Understanding the cheater will allow us not to condemn him
for his acts, but to help him leave cheating. If you see a cheater,
offer to help take a brand new, level-1 character around --
adventuring with higher-up honorable warriors is no crime, nor is it
cheating; it is, in fact, the spirit of brotherhood, fostering, and
caring that we MUST found our society upon here on battle.net; and it
is a concept which I shall forever defend.
Archmage Ioannes
Level 36+ Sorceror
Back To The Diablo Page
Back To The Main Page