Fenomena Toxic Behavior dalam Game Online Mobile Legends: Bang Bang di Kalangan Mahasiswa Universitas Sumatera Utara

Abstract

This research examines the phenomenon of Toxic behavior in the online game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang among University of North Sumatra (USU) students from Alfred Schutz s phenomenological perspective. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this study aims to understand the factors that cause toxicity and efforts to deal with it. The results identified seven main triggering factors: AFK, Feeder, role noncompliance, not participating in team fights, underestimating opponents, indifference to the team, and overly bossy behavior. These factors are explained through Schutz s concept, where Toxic behavior is rooted in cause motives (past negative experiences such as frustration or distrust) and driven by goal motives (emotional release, protest, or dominance). The research also found six ways to deal with Toxic behavior: applying Positive Mental Attitude (PMA), choosing heroes according to team needs, turning off the chat/mute feature, reporting toxic players, pausing, and communicating politely. These efforts, which were also explained through the because motive (learning from toxicity) and the goal motive (creating positive experiences or selfprotection), showed individuals awareness to maintain interactions. In addition, new dimensions were discovered such as the variation of Toxic behavior by gender, its relation to play motivation, and its impact on mental health and team cohesion. This study concludes that Toxic behavior is a dynamic social construct that influences the reality of play.