Co-Op Gaming Causes Less Aggression than Competitive
We've always said that playing co-op games online is a much different social experience, compared to typical multiplayer versus play. Just hop into any versus game of Halo 3 and compare the chatter to that of a co-op game of Halo 3. It's absolute night and day. Perhaps the reason is John Gabriel's Internet Fuckwad Theory, or perhaps it's has to do with aggressive behavior trigger by the game type.
The latter theory was studied at the University of Missouri and its findings published in Evolution and Human Behavior, a popular science journal. To create this test they set up groups of players that would compete in co-op/team oriented gametypes and deathmatch gametypes both with/against friends and strangers in Unreal Tournament 2004.
The result? The players' testosterone response varied depending on whether they played "ingroup" or "outgroup" games, and was actually lower or "muted" during the former. In other words: Players were more aggressive toward players they didn't know than players they did.
The summary that was printed doesn't quite support what we've seen, then again, they never really tested TRUE co-op play.
We suggest that violent video games appeal to young men because the games tap their evolved motivation to engage in male–male competition and engage the same systems that evolved to allow them to engage in military and political strategizing. The corresponding hypothesis — men will show the testosterone winner effect found with meaningful male–male competition — was partially supported for the between-group tournaments.
Still the end result at its core is the same - players that work together towards a common goal are less likely to be total douches and act out aggressively, then those that are competing for the biggest e-peen.
Thanks Mrxknown_JG for the tip.
Source: Link 
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Not just because it became boring but more because there was not a single day without a "John Gabriel's Internet Fuckwad Theory" encounter, I decided to teach and do co-op instead.
Trying to reduce the aggressiveness I found out that co-op games are very helpful, but if one player can fail the mission he can trigger and direct hate of the entire group against him.
In many cases the group began to leave the game if someone failed the mission on purpose.
So I believe it is the job of the game to take care of players which do disrupt the game-flow, by kicking or locking out these players for some amount of time, allowing them to reconsider the situation they tried to trigger.
Also, glad to see Co-op win the academic scene - It's about time games get some good press.
I do remember playing competitive games like Call of Duty and Halo 3 non-stop a while back. At points, embarrassing as it is to admit, I could be doing so bad I would be yelling at people that couldn't even hear me. Once I started playing with friends, doing better in matches, and finding myself much more laid-back. . . I gave up on the competitive matches, and started looking for more co-operative games and modes that I could play, or at least people to play with (and that eventually led me here, with a little help from seeing an event awhile back on XBox LIVE that had the website, if I recall. ).
I'm glad I made that change; my TV has accepted my apology for the yelling, and we are friends again.
Same way here dude. The only competitive mode I really touch is Versus on Left 4 Dead and that is usually played with friends against random people. We don't call each other names or anything like that so it is just good fun.
Seriously though, to me it seems to be more a case of friends v strangers rather then co-op v competitive. Left 4 Dead is/was full of them.
While I have no delusions that we ever should or could get to that point, it does make you think how the world might be different if that's how we were all socialized from an early age.
FYI I was unable to get the full text of this article. It seems it is online only right now, but will be in print soon. There also seems to have been some issue where the paper was re-edited. I think this is why it didn't make the Sept. print.
there's just one problem with that: testosterone
I think there will be an eternal debate about nature vs. nurture. In all reality it's probably a bit of both.
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But nowadays more Co-op games are being made, and there it doesn't matter if you can't play or not, most players will help you.
BTW I'm a very good gamer, I can easily get into most games (95% of them), and I'm very kind and patient. So if someone wants to play with me then fine