The role of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy in predicting cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults

This study investigates the influence of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy on cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults. A sample of 422 participants was analyzed using correlation and regression analyses to explore the relationships between the...

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Main Authors: Abdullah, Haslinda, Kunhao, Zhang, Ma’rof, Aini Azeqa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Human Resource Management Academic Research Society 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118032/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118032/1/118032.pdf
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author Abdullah, Haslinda
Kunhao, Zhang
Ma’rof, Aini Azeqa
author_facet Abdullah, Haslinda
Kunhao, Zhang
Ma’rof, Aini Azeqa
author_sort Abdullah, Haslinda
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study investigates the influence of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy on cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults. A sample of 422 participants was analyzed using correlation and regression analyses to explore the relationships between these variables. The results indicate that moral disengagement and anonymity perception are strong predictors of cyberbullying perpetration, highlighting the tendency to rationalize harmful online behaviors when individuals feel detached from moral and social constraints. Online disinhibition also emerged as a key factor, showing that individuals who feel uninhibited in online spaces are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior. Conversely, empathy plays a protective role, with higher levels of empathy associated with lower engagement in cyberbullying. These findings suggest that reducing moral disengagement and anonymity, while fostering empathy, can help mitigate cyberbullying. Educational institutions and policymakers should implement programs that address these cognitive and emotional factors to promote safer online environments.
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spelling upm-1180322025-06-23T02:54:49Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118032/ The role of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy in predicting cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults Abdullah, Haslinda Kunhao, Zhang Ma’rof, Aini Azeqa This study investigates the influence of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy on cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults. A sample of 422 participants was analyzed using correlation and regression analyses to explore the relationships between these variables. The results indicate that moral disengagement and anonymity perception are strong predictors of cyberbullying perpetration, highlighting the tendency to rationalize harmful online behaviors when individuals feel detached from moral and social constraints. Online disinhibition also emerged as a key factor, showing that individuals who feel uninhibited in online spaces are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior. Conversely, empathy plays a protective role, with higher levels of empathy associated with lower engagement in cyberbullying. These findings suggest that reducing moral disengagement and anonymity, while fostering empathy, can help mitigate cyberbullying. Educational institutions and policymakers should implement programs that address these cognitive and emotional factors to promote safer online environments. Human Resource Management Academic Research Society 2024-12-08 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118032/1/118032.pdf Abdullah, Haslinda and Kunhao, Zhang and Ma’rof, Aini Azeqa (2024) The role of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy in predicting cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14 (12). pp. 1114-1127. ISSN 2222-6990 https://hrmars.com/index.php/IJARBSS/article/view/24048/The-Role-of-Moral-Disengagement-Anonymity-Perception-Online-Disinhibition-and-Empathy-in-Predicting-Cyberbullying-Perpetration-among-Chinese-Young-Adults 10.6007/ijarbss/v14-i12/24048
spellingShingle Abdullah, Haslinda
Kunhao, Zhang
Ma’rof, Aini Azeqa
The role of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy in predicting cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults
title The role of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy in predicting cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults
title_full The role of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy in predicting cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults
title_fullStr The role of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy in predicting cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults
title_full_unstemmed The role of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy in predicting cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults
title_short The role of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy in predicting cyberbullying perpetration among Chinese young adults
title_sort role of moral disengagement, anonymity perception, online disinhibition, and empathy in predicting cyberbullying perpetration among chinese young adults
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118032/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118032/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118032/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118032/1/118032.pdf