Linguistic Harbingers of Betrayal: A Case Study of Online Strategy Games

Interpersonal relations are in constant flux; close friendships often dissolve into enmity. We examine linguistic cues augur transitions from friendly bonds into hostile relations through conversations from online strategy games. We look at betrayal from two perspectives in a classification framework: we characterize the difference between friendships that break and friendships that last, and we examine the temporal evolution of impending betrayal. Our study reveals linguistic cues of a fragile friendship. We show that subtle signs of an imminent betrayal are encoded in changes of conversational patterns, when at least one participant is unaware of the relationship’s fate. In particular, we find that lasting friendships exhibit a form of social symmetry that also manifests through language. Imbalances of certain attributes, such as positivity or argumentativeness, should be taken as warning signs.