The Influence of Victim Self-Disclosure on Bystander Intervention in Cyberbullying

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Abstract
The frequent occurrences of cyberbullying on social platforms have sparked a great deal of social conflict, and bystander intervention plays a crucial role in preventing the escalation of cyberbullying. This research examines the impact of victim self-disclosure on bystander intervention in cyberbullying through two experimental studies. The studies collected data from March to July of 2022, utilizing a convenience sampling approach to recruit university students as experiment participants. Study 1 recruited 247 valid participants, while Study 2 recruited 522 eligible participants. The results of Study 1 indicate that the perceptible dimensions (frequency, privacy, and valence) of victim self-disclosure impact bystander intervention. Specifically, in a low privacy context, positive self-disclosure increases bystander intervention, while negative self-disclosure does the opposite. The results of Study 2 suggest that the valence of self-disclosure affects bystander intervention through the mediation of victim blaming, with interpersonal distance moderating the impact of victim self-disclosure valence on the extent of victim blaming. This moderated mediation model clarifies the psychological process by which the valence of victim self-disclosure affects bystander intervention. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the social psychological process behind bystander intervention, providing a scientific basis and pathway for reducing cyberbullying and fostering a harmonious online environment.
Funding Information
  • Scientific Research Innovation Project of China University of Political Science and Law (20ZFD82002, ZFYZ88001, 19ZFQ18001, 21YJAZH058, 21JYB010, DEA220353)
  • Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (20ZFD82002, ZFYZ88001, 19ZFQ18001, 21YJAZH058, 21JYB010, DEA220353)
  • Humanities and Social Sciences Fund of the Chinese Ministry of Education (20ZFD82002, ZFYZ88001, 19ZFQ18001, 21YJAZH058, 21JYB010, DEA220353)
  • Beijing Social Science Fund (20ZFD82002, ZFYZ88001, 19ZFQ18001, 21YJAZH058, 21JYB010, DEA220353)
  • major project of the Chinese Ministry of Education, National Education Sciences Planning Fund (20ZFD82002, ZFYZ88001, 19ZFQ18001, 21YJAZH058, 21JYB010, DEA220353)

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