Cyberhate and cyberbullying: joint propensity and reciprocal amplification

Görzig, Anke ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7623-0836, Wachs, Sebastian and Wright, Michelle (2019) Cyberhate and cyberbullying: joint propensity and reciprocal amplification. In: International Society of Political Psychology, 12-15 July 2019, Lisbon, Portugal. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Research has shown for decades that regardless of culture, country, analytical and statistical methods both perpetration and victimization are highly associated. However, less attention has been given to the possible associations between cyberhate victimization and perpetration. In agreement with the Social Learning Theory, cyberhate victims may become more aggressive and perpetrate cyberhate as they have learned these behaviors as a result of their victimization. Further, borrowing from Problem Behaviour Theory, this association may also be in line with other associated risk behaviors, such as, cyberbullying perpetration. A total of N = 1480 German students between 12 and 17 years old participated in this study. Cyberhate victimization, perpetration and cyberbullying perpetration were assessed via self-report items. Cyberhate victimization was the IV, cyberhate perpetration was the DV, and cyberbullying perpetration was the moderator, while controlling for participants’ age, sex, migration background, and socioeconomic background. Moderation analysis was examined using SPSS Process Macro. Increases in cyberhate victimization were positively related to cyberhate perpetration (b=0.16***). Cyberbullying perpetration was positively associated with cyberhate perpetration (b=0.15***). Significant moderation effects were found between cyberhate victimization and cyberbullying perpetration when predicting cyberhate perpetration (b=0.12***). Cyberhate victims reported more cyberhate perpetration when they reported higher levels of cyberbullying perpetration (b=0.28***) and less frequent cyberhate perpetration when they reported lower levels of cyberbullying perpetration (b=0.16***). Our findings suggest amplifying effects between cyberhate and cyberbullying and, in line with notions of a common risk propensity in adolescence, emphasize the need for intervention programs to address shared vulnerability factors.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Additional Information: Paper presented at the 'Victims and perpetrators of hate speech' full panel. Symposium title: Victims and perpetrators of hate speech Hate speech is one of the biggest contemporary social issues. Previous findings indicate that among the majority members, frequent exposure to hate speech is followed by increased prejudice, anti-immigrant attitudes, heightened dehumanization, or discriminatory intentions. All these changes consequently directly or indirectly impact the well-being of various minority groups. In this symposium we would like examine who are the perpetrators, and at the same time, who are the victims of hate speech. Which factors promote the use of (online) hate speech vs. being a victim of it? Is hate speech targeted mostly at men or women? What are the consequences of being a victim of hate speech: social withdrawal and depression, or maybe revenge and engagement in hate speech as a perpetrator? What can be used to prevent negative outcomes of hate speech? Finally, is hate speech at all about hate, or maybe other emotions play a crucial role here? By using data from large-sample surveys, and by utilizing novel methodological approaches (such as quantitative analysis of web-scraped contents or automated facial expression recognition) we will try to address these queries and to provide scientific voice in a much heated debate on the limits of free speech.
Subjects: Education
Media
Psychology
Social sciences
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Anke Görzig
Date Deposited: 23 Jul 2019 12:57
Last Modified: 28 Aug 2021 07:11
URI: https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/6285

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