Say Something! Exploring Physiological Indicators of the Cyberbullying Bystander Effect

• In Event: Social Brains: Neuroscientific Investigations on Social Influence Processes (High-Density)

Abstract

Cyberbystanders have the potential to intervene on behalf of a victim when the victim is being targeted by a bully, but often choose not to. Researchers refer to this phenomenon as cyberbystander effect. It is frequently observed, yet little is known about factors that contribute to this effect. The goal of this specific experiment is to develop an initial understanding of how differing levels of message aggression induce certain physiological responses, and how those physiological responses impact subsequent intervention behavior. In this study bystanders were introduced to messages which gradually increased in the levels of aggressiveness their physiological and behavioral responses were measured. Participants felt more arousing and more negative as the level of attack severity increased. They felt less positive as aggressiveness severity of the messages increased. Physiological responses showed similar patterns. Participants avoided responding to messages with higher levels of aggressiveness severity.

Authors

• V. Skye Wingate, U of California, Davis

• Narine S. Yegiyan, University of California, Davis

• Tessa Irene DeAngelo, U of California, Davis