Cyber Aggression: The Social Network Ties of Electronic Victimization

• In Event: 123 - Section on Social Psychology Refereed Roundtable Session (co-sponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions and Section on Sociology of Mental Health).
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 02. Social Networks

Abstract

We examine the social network context that influences the risk of youth being victimized by cyber aggression (or electronic aggression/bullying). We argue that two fundamental, social processes likely contribute appreciably to the emergence of cyber aggression within a school, and these include the enforcement of social norms and the establishment of status hierarchies. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the close relationships of friendship and romance substantially influence the chances of being targeted by electronic aggression. Our data set contains social network information regarding friendship, dating, and cyber aggression for a sample of 788 8th to 12 grade students, collected as part of a longitudinal study of students in a New York school. Approximately 20% of the sample reported some involvement in cyber aggression within the past several weeks. Non-heterosexual, LGBTQ, youth were targeted at a rate over 14 times that of their heterosexual peers. Rates of cyber aggression also were 4.3 times higher between friends than between friends of friends. In addition, dating individuals were frequent victims. Social network graphs illustrate these patterns of overlapping ties between friendship, dating, and becoming a victim of electronic aggression. Finally, according to a lagged, network, Multiple Regression Quadratic Analysis Procedure (MRQAP), electronic attacks emerged significantly more frequently between former friends and between previous dating partners, while controlling for Time 1 victimization. This pattern of significant victimization between former close ties presumably arises due to competition for social attainment, revenge for perceived past wrongs, and/or attempts to fend off romantic rivals.

Authors

• Diane H. Felmlee, Pennsylvania State University

• Robert W. Faris, UC-Davis