Bystander Intervention in Cyber Harassment Scenarios

• In Event: Understanding and Responding to Cyber Victimization

Abstract

While research on bystander intervention regarding violence against women (i.e., sexual violence) has proliferated on college campuses, there is relatively little research in terms of bystander intervention of cyber harassment. Furthermore, within the cyber harassment literature, researchers have typically only focused on a single type of research, such as cyber bullying or cyber stalking. This research incorporated a range of cyber harassment behaviors and assessed bystander intervention. Utilizing a sample of college students, bystander intervention was analyzed. In responding to vignettes, participants were asked to indicate when, how and what potential barriers to intervention may occur for a range of cyber harassment scenarios. In addition, gender differences of participants and vignette characters were assessed. Implications of the findings will be discussed.

Author

• Jennifer A. Leili, University of South Florida