Do you cheat at Social Video Games?

Do you cheat at Social Video Games?  If so, you are three times more likely to be dishonest in other areas of your life.  This is according to a new survey from PopCap Games.  Their survey is focused on British adults and compares the habits of more than 10 million people across the US and UK.  Nearly half of people who say they cheat on games admitted to cheating in real life, from stealing towels to cheating on their partners!  The survey shows that 118 million people are regular gamers in the UK and US and of those, 11% in the UK cheat compared to only 7% in the US. The report also found that although the total number of women playing social games outpaces men 55% to 45%, men are more likely to cheat in gaming than women (54% to 46%). 

Key findings of the report include:

• 53% of people who cheat in gaming report cheating on tests at school.
• U.K. cheaters are significantly more likely to cheat on their taxes than U.S. cheaters (58% versus 33%).
• Overall 51% of 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 the figure rises to 60%.
• 51% of 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 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 gaming report stealing packets of sugar, butter or jam from a restaurant.
• 43% of people who cheat at gaming report stealing magazines from a waiting room.

The full report, conducted by Information Solutions Group, is available for download at 2011 PopCap Social Gaming Cheaters vs. Non-Cheaters Research