The Relationship Between Empathy and Moral Disengagement and Adolescents’ Online Celebrity Aggression

• In Event: Lessons From Media: Connection, Careers, and Community

Abstract

Adolescents become regularly involved in online aggression, targeted at peers, but also increasingly at adults, such as celebrities. It is important to investigate this phenomenon, as it may not only have a devastating impact on the celebrity, but also influence bystanders’ perceptions of acceptable online behavior. The current study empirically investigated the relationship between two socio-cognitive characteristics (empathy and moral disengagement) and online celebrity aggression. The sample consisted of 1,255 adolescents with a mean age of 14.17 years (SD= .47). Participants completed the Moral Disengagement Scale adapted to a celebrity context, the Emotional Quotient and a scale measuring mild and severe online celebrity aggression. Path analysis indicated that, when controlling for gender, moral disengagement predicted mild and severe online celebrity aggression. Emotional reactivity and cognitive empathy were only associated with severe online celebrity aggression. Moreover, moral disengagement was a mediator between emotional reactivity and both mild and severe celebrity aggression.

Authors

• Gaelle Ouvrein, U of Antwerp

• Charlotte Jacqueline De Backer, U of Antwerpen

• Heidi Vandebosch, U of Antwerp - Department of Communication Studies