Self-esteem might be a factor when it comes to cheating in online games. Research across different fields, from academics to sports, suggests that people with lower self-esteem are more likely to cheat. They might cheat to achieve goals, boost their image, or avoid failure because they don’t believe in their abilities. People with higher self-esteem who’ve succeeded through their own efforts are less likely to see the appeal of winning by dishonesty. They have other ways to maintain or boost their self-worth and tend to avoid cheating.