The Psychology of Tilt: Understanding Tilt and Coping Strategies in Video Games

The popularity of video games and esports has increased the demand for scientific research examining the psychological factors associated with video game performance. Tilt, a common term in gaming, is characterized by negative emotion and a decline in performance. The term tilt is commonly used within the gaming community, yet there is a lack of research examining tilt in video games from a psychological perspective. This article focuses on gaining insight from gamers regarding their understanding and experience of tilt in gaming using a qualitative approach. Thematic analysis of gamers responses determined tilt to be multifaceted, incorporating negative emotions and behavior, hindering cognition, and resulting in poor in-game performance. These results provide an important contribution to our conceptual understanding of tilt, illuminating the multitude of emotions involved in tilt, the antecedent factors, and insight regarding gamers strategies to deal with tilt. This study builds upon our understanding of tilt, providing practical information for esports psychologists to identify, understand, and effectively train players in managing tilt and improving performance. This study highlights the need for evidence-based tailored interventions centered upon reducing tilt and improving video game performance.