Social psychology of online hate and harassment: Victimization and offending in six EU countries

• In Event: Hate crime victimisation

Abstract

Online hate and harassment are a significant concern worldwide. The spectrum of online hate and harassment encompasses aggressive and antagonistic behaviors directed at both individuals and groups. New theories are needed to explain the phenomenon. This paper was based on social psychological self-determination theory that underlines relevance of basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness for human motivation and wellbeing. We used longitudinal Self & Technology EU-6 data that was collected in 2022 –2023 from Finland (n=1,541), France (n=1,561), Germany (n=1,529), Ireland (n=1,112), Italy (n=1,530), and Poland (n=1,533). Participants were aged 18–75 years, and their demographic profile matched the target population of each country. Victimization to online hate and harassment was measured with a 9-item scale. Online hate and harassment offending was measured with a single-item question. Predictors included basic psychological needs which were based on the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, metacognition (MSAS), psychological distress (MHI-5), and social media addiction (BSMAS). Models were run using hybrid multilevel regression enabling the separation of within-person and between-person effects. Male gender and younger age were associated with victimization and offending. Fulfilment of basic psychological needs decreased victimization in Germany (relatedness) and offending in Finland (competence), Germany (autonomy), and Poland (competence). Social media addiction had a within-person effect on victimization in all countries and on offending in France, Germany, Italy, and Poland. Between-person effects showed that social media addicts had higher rate of both victimization and offending than others. For metacognition we found only some evidence (between-person effects in Finland, Germany, and Poland). Psychological distress was consistently associated with both victimization and offending. The study indicated that social psychological measures deriving from the self-determination theory are promising in explaining cybercrime. The strongest and most consistent results, however, concerned social media addiction.

Authors

• Atte Oksanen, Tampere University

• Magdalena Celuch, Tampere University

• Janne Vepsäläinen, Tampere University

• Markus Kaakinen, University of Helsinki

• Iina Savolainen, Tampere University