Relationships Between Students' Cyberbullying and Their Instructional Dissent and Motives for Communicating With Their Instructor

• In Event: Top Papers in Instructional Communication Division

Abstract

Most college students have some experience with cyberbullying, either in sending and/or receiving the bullying messages. This study was interested in how perpetrators of cyberbullying communicate in the classroom (i.e., motives for communicating with one’s instructors, instructional dissent). College students (n = 360) reported on their own communication behaviors. Students who reported cyberbullying involving unwanted contact, deception, and public humiliation also reported practicing vengeful dissent and to a lesser extent, rhetorical dissent. Students who reported cyberbullying involving unwanted contact, deception, and to a lesser extent malice also reported communicating with their instructors for the motives of sycophancy and excuse-making.

Authors

• Matthew M. Martin, West Virginia U

• Alan K. Goodboy, West Virginia U

• Molly Eickholt, West Virginia U