1
|
Mateus Francisco S, Costa Ferreira P, Veiga Simão AM, Salgado Pereira N. Moral disengagement and empathy in cyberbullying: how they are related in reflection activities about a serious game. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:168. [PMID: 38515217 PMCID: PMC10956178 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01582-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyberbullying is a complex phenomenon with multiple factors involved, both contextual and individual factors, such as moral disengagement and empathy. This study investigated how moral disengagement and empathy could be related, longitudinally in cyberbullying events. Specifically, two gamified tasks (one for empathy and other for moral disengagement) were analyzed. These tasks were developed attending to the specificities of the cyberbullying scenarios presented in a serious game. To accomplish this goal, data from gamified tasks (N = 208), from 4 different moments, were analyzed through multilevel linear modeling. Results suggested that there was a change in adolescents' moral disengagement over time. Participants with greater empathy revealed lower moral disengagement overall. Over time, adolescents with greater empathy revealed lower moral disengagement within their own growth rate. Overall, our results provide important information about the dynamic relationship between moral disengagement, empathy and cyberbullying, which informs future studies and interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Mateus Francisco
- CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, Lisboa, 1649-013, Portugal.
| | - Paula Costa Ferreira
- CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, Lisboa, 1649-013, Portugal
| | - Ana Margarida Veiga Simão
- CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, Lisboa, 1649-013, Portugal
| | - Nádia Salgado Pereira
- CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, Lisboa, 1649-013, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Malin Y, Gumpel TP. Dispositional mindfulness plays a major role in adolescents' active and passive responding to bully-victim dynamics. Aggress Behav 2023; 49:509-520. [PMID: 37098754 DOI: 10.1002/ab.22087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Past research on school bullying focused on the role of the bully, suggesting that this active perpetrator is characterized by low empathy, low self-regulation, and high moral disengagement (MD). Studies recently demonstrated a relationship between dispositional mindfulness and bullying as well. However, in the last 2 decades, research has broadened this perspective, suggesting that active and passive bystanders may play a major role in school bullying by either supporting or opposing bullying. In this research, we examined whether empathy, MD, self-regulation, and mindfulness are significantly associated with probullying, defending, and bystanding behaviors. A total of 429 middle and high school adolescents from Israel (mean age = 16.81 years, SD = 1.62) completed online questionnaires. Through structural equation modeling, we found that empathy was associated with both, self-regulation and defending behaviors. MD was associated with defending and probullying behaviors. Dispositional mindfulness was associated with all three roles we examined. All these relationships were significant and in the expected direction. As mindfulness is a disposition that can be cultivated, this finding may have further implications in programs that aim at reducing school bullying.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yael Malin
- Seymour Fox School of Education, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Thomas P Gumpel
- Seymour Fox School of Education, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Francisco SM, da Costa Ferreira P, Veiga Simão AM, Pereira NS. Measuring empathy online and moral disengagement in cyberbullying. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1061482. [PMID: 37179897 PMCID: PMC10172580 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1061482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This investigation intends to explore how adolescents report empathy in online contexts and moral disengagement in cyberbullying incidents, and how these two constructs are related. To accomplish this goal, three studies were conducted considering the need to develop new instruments to uncover this new approach of measuring empathy and moral disengagement. In the first study, we adapted the Portuguese version of the Empathy Quotient-short form to online contexts, which resulted in the Empathy Quotient in Virtual Contexts (EQVC). We also developed the Process Moral Disengagement in Cyberbullying Inventory (PMDCI), in order to assess moral disengagement in these specific situations. In the second study we conducted exploratory factor analyses (N = 234) of these instruments. Finally, in the third study, we conducted confirmatory factor analyses (N = 345) of both instruments. These results showed how adolescents reported empathy in online contexts and moral disengagement in cyberbullying incidents. Specifically, empathy revealed a bi-dimensional structure including difficulty and self-efficacy in empathizing (Cronbach's α = 0.44, 0.83, respectively), whereas process moral disengagement revealed four unidimensional questionnaires including locus of behavior, agency, outcome, and recipient (Cronbach's α = 0.76, 0.65, 0.77, 0.69, respectively). Furthermore, a correlational analysis was also performed of both constructs, and we also considered the variable sex. Results showed that difficulty in empathizing was negatively associated with sex (with girls revealing more difficulty than boys) and all moral disengagement mechanisms except for behavior. Moral disengagement was positively correlated with sex, suggesting boys morally disengaged more from cyberbullying. The instruments provided new insights on how empathy and moral disengagement can be specific to online contexts and cyberbullying situations, and how they can be used in educational programs to promote empathy and gain insight on moral disengagement within this phenomenon.
Collapse
|
4
|
McIver TA, Craig W, Bosma RL, Chiarella J, Klassen J, Sandra A, Goegan S, Booij L. Empathy, Defending, and Functional Connectivity While Witnessing Social Exclusion. Soc Neurosci 2022; 17:352-367. [PMID: 35659207 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2022.2086618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Peers are present for most bullying episodes. Peers who witness bullying can play an important role in either stopping or perpetuating the behaviour. Defending can greatly benefit victimized peers. Empathy is strongly associated with defending. Yet, less is known about defenders' neural response to witnessing social distress, and how this response may relate to the link between empathy and defending. Forty-six first-year undergraduate students (Mage = 17.7; 37 women), with varied history of peer defending, underwent fMRI scanning while witnessing a depiction of social exclusion. Functional connectivity analysis was performed across brain regions that are involved in cognitive empathy, empathetic distress, and compassion. History of defending was positively associated with functional connectivity (Exclusion > Inclusion) between the left orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) - medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), and right OFC - left and right amygdalae. Defending was negatively associated with functional connectivity between the left OFC - anterior cingulate cortex. The relationship between history of defending and empathy (specifically, empathetic perspective taking) was moderated by functional connectivity of the right OFC - left amygdala. These findings suggest that coactivation of brain regions involved in compassionate emotion regulation and empathetic distress play a role in the relationship between empathy and peer defending.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa A McIver
- Queen's University, Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wendy Craig
- Queen's University, Department of Psychology, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rachael L Bosma
- Queen's University, Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julian Chiarella
- Concordia University, Department of Psychology, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Janell Klassen
- Queen's University, Department of Psychology, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aislinn Sandra
- Queen's University, Department of Psychology, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarah Goegan
- Queen's University, Department of Psychology, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Linda Booij
- Queen's University, Department of Psychology, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.,Concordia University, Department of Psychology, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Falla D, Romera EM, Ortega-Ruiz R. Aggression, Moral Disengagement and Empathy. A Longitudinal Study Within the Interpersonal Dynamics of Bullying. Front Psychol 2021; 12:703468. [PMID: 34566782 PMCID: PMC8461074 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.703468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Moral disengagement and empathy have been linked to aggression in traditional bullying. A number of longitudinal studies have focused on how these variables predict aggressive behavior within the dynamics of bullying. However, no conclusive results have been produced as to whether aggressive behavior in bullying can predict lower levels of empathy, and to date, no studies have explored in depth the mediating role of moral disengagement strategies in this relationship, which is the aim of this study. A total of 1,810 students (51.0% girls; Mage = 14.50; SD = 1.05) completed a survey in three waves at 6-month intervals. The results showed that aggressive behavior in bullying at Time 1 was inversely related to affective and cognitive empathy at Time 3. Minimization of responsibility, distortion of consequences and dehumanizing mediated in the aggressive behavior exhibited by the bullying aggressors and in cognitive empathy, while cognitive restructuring and the distortion of consequences mediated in affective empathy. We discuss the impact on moral and emotional sensitivity of the continued aggression occurring in the interpersonal dynamics of bullying, as well as the relationship between certain strategies of moral disengagement and the different types of empathy. We also comment on the need to design intervention programs to address the lowering of moral criteria and empathy in young people and adolescents involved in traditional bullying.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Falla
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Eva M Romera
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Parra Grajales MF, Zamora Vásquez E, Cuevas Jaramillo MC. Moral Disengagement in Emerging Adults’ Attitudes towards the Colombian Peace Accords. UNIVERSITAS PSYCHOLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.11144/javeriana.upsy18-5.mdea] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In the framework of Colombia’s peace process, we explore the moral disengagement in the attitudes of Colombians from Cali towards the first version of the Peace Accords. To achieve this, we conducted 12 in-depth interviews with emerging adults. Participant characteristics considered in the study include how they voted in the 2016 peace referendum, age, sex, socioeconomic status and educational level. The transcripts were analyzed through a content analysis applying consensual qualitative research (CQR) guidelines and considering the identity markers mentioned above. The results show that most participants’ discourse presented moral disengagement mechanisms. However, the morality in their attitudes is not adequately comprehended by only analyzing traces of moral disengagement. Other moral elements must be considered, especially since morality appears to be an important aspect of the participants’ attitudes towards topics related to the peace accords. Social implications are discussed.
Collapse
|
7
|
Bussey K, Luo A, Fitzpatrick S, Allison K. Defending victims of cyberbullying: The role of self-efficacy and moral disengagement. J Sch Psychol 2019; 78:1-12. [PMID: 32178806 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsp.2019.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Cyberbullying is a significant problem worldwide that affects adolescents' social relations, academic achievement, and mental health. As this form of bullying is typically viewed by a large audience it is important to understand the role of observers as they may hold a key for reducing bullying. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the socio-cognitive factors of defending self-efficacy (i.e., belief in one's capability to defend) and moral disengagement (i.e., justifications for aggressive behavior) associated with general cyber defending behavior and cyber defending response types: constructive and aggressive. Participants were 540 male and female students of diverse racial identity between the ages of 11 and 15 years who completed a questionnaire comprising multiple measures. Regression analyses revealed that at low levels of defending self-efficacy, moral disengagement was unrelated to general cyber defending behavior. However, at high levels of defending self-efficacy, moral disengagement was positively associated with general cyber defending. Further regression analyses revealed that the results for constructive cyber defending were the inverse of those obtained for aggressive defending. Defending self-efficacy was positively associated with constructive defending and negatively associated with aggressive defending. Moral disengagement was negatively associated with constructive defending and positively associated with aggressive defending. These results address the perplexing issue of why moral disengagement has been related to defending in some studies and not in others. As with most measures of defending, the general cyber defending measure confounds constructive and aggressive defending.
Collapse
|
8
|
|
9
|
Parlangeli O, Marchigiani E, Bracci M, Duguid AM, Palmitesta P, Marti P. Offensive acts and helping behavior on the internet: An analysis of the relationships between moral disengagement, empathy and use of social media in a sample of Italian students. Work 2019; 63:469-477. [PMID: 31256099 DOI: 10.3233/wor-192935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The phenomenon of cyberbullying is on the rise among adolescents and in schools. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between personality characteristics such as empathy, the tendency to implement cognitive mechanisms aimed at moral disengagement, and the use of social media. PARTICIPANTS Italian students from first to fifth year in high school classes (n = 264). METHODS A questionnaire was used to gather information on the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, their use of social media, their level of empathy (Basic Empathy Scale, BES), and mechanisms of moral disengagement (Moral Disengagement Scale MDS). Two questions were included to determine whether each participant had ever been a victim of or witness to cyberbullying. RESULTS Results suggest that offensive behaviors are related to mechanisms of moral disengagement and to interaction using forms of communication that allow anonymity. In addition, offensive behavior appears to be related to forms of Internet addiction, while prosocial behavior is linked with cognitive empathy. CONCLUSION In order to promote the establishment of prosocial behavior, it would seem necessary for the various players involved - schools, parents, social network developers - to make an effort to implement educational environments and virtual social networks based on a hypothesis of "design for reflection", educating young people about the need to take the time to understand their feelings and relationships expressed via social media.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oronzo Parlangeli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali, Politiche e Cognitive, Universitá di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Enrica Marchigiani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali, Politiche e Cognitive, Universitá di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Margherita Bracci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali, Politiche e Cognitive, Universitá di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Alison Margaret Duguid
- Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali, Politiche e Cognitive, Universitá di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Paola Palmitesta
- Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali, Politiche e Cognitive, Universitá di Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Patrizia Marti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali, Politiche e Cognitive, Universitá di Siena, Siena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Killer B, Bussey K, Hawes DJ, Hunt C. A meta-analysis of the relationship between moral disengagement and bullying roles in youth. Aggress Behav 2019; 45:450-462. [PMID: 30900277 DOI: 10.1002/ab.21833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Over the last several years, researchers have become increasingly interested in the influence of moral factors on bullying behaviors. This is the first meta-analytic review to exclusively examine the relationship between moral disengagement (MD) and the key bullying roles of bully, victim, defender, and bystander. Forty-seven independent samples examining a total of 43,809 children/adolescents (aged 7-19) were included in this meta-analysis. Results indicated a positive relationship between MD and bullying (r = 0.31; 95% CI [0.27, 0.34]), MD and victimization (r = 0.08; 95% CI [0.05, 0.12]), and a negative relationship between MD and defending (r = -0.11; 95% CI [-0.17, -0.04]). No significant relationship was found for MD and bystanding behavior. Moderators of bullying type (traditional vs. cyberbullying), reporting type (self vs. peer report), age, and gender were included in the analyses. The results are discussed in the context of relevant literature with particular emphasis on the importance of distinguishing between guilty and unconcerned bystanders, and the significant overlap between bullying and victimization in the cyber context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Killer
- School of PsychologyThe University of SydneySydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Kay Bussey
- Department of PsychologyMacquarie UniversitySydney New South Wales Australia
| | - David J Hawes
- School of PsychologyThe University of SydneySydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Caroline Hunt
- School of PsychologyThe University of SydneySydney New South Wales Australia
| |
Collapse
|