Peer Group Talk and Striving for Autonomy as Motivators for Cyberbullying

• In Event: ICA Interactive Paper/Poster Session I
  In Interactive Poster Session: Information Systems Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

The paper argues that psychological development and peer group influences interact in motivating teenagers to cyberbully age-mates. Based on a written survey with 1,811 adolescents (7th and 8th grade) we show that talking with peers about online activities correlates with the notion that cyberbullying has positive consequences for the bully. The perception that cyberbullying is beneficial for the bully in turn predicts engagement in cyberbullying. In addition, peer group talks are directly associated with cyberbullying perpetration. These relationships however only hold true for adolescents who do not yet perceive themselves as sufficiently autonomous. The results may inform bullying preventing programs as they show that fostering prosocial means of becoming more agentic and independent may prevent teenagers from engaging in cyberbullying.

Authors

• Mathias Weber, Department of Communication / Johannes Gutenberg U of Mainz

• Christina Koehler, U of Mainz