Wachs, Sebastian; Bilz, Ludwig; Wettstein, Alexander; Wright, Michelle F.; Krause, Norman; Ballaschk, Cindy; Kansok-Dusche, Julia (2022). The online hate speech cycle of violence: moderating effects of moral disengagement and empathy in the victim-to-perpetrator relationship. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 25 (4), pp. 223-229. 10.1089/cyber.2021.0159

Text cyber.2021.0159.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (247kB) | Request a copy

Adolescents around the globe are increasingly exposed to online hate speech (OHS). And yet little is known about the varying roles of involvement and the determinants of adolescents' hate speech perpetration. Building on previous research, this study aims to test the cycle of violence hypothesis for OHS and to analyze whether moral disengagement (MD) and empathy moderate the victim-to-perpetrator relationship. The sample consists of 3,560 seventh to ninth graders (52.1 percent girls), recruited from 40 schools across Germany and Switzerland. Self-report questionnaires were administered to assess OHS involvement, MD, and empathy. Multilevel analyses revealed that victims of OHS were more likely to report OHS perpetration. In addition, victims of OHS were more likely to report OHS perpetration when they reported higher levels of MD than those with lower levels of MD. Finally, victims of OHS were less likely to report OHS perpetration when they reported higher levels of empathy than those with lower levels of empathy. The findings extend the cycle of violence hypothesis to OHS and highlight the need to address MD and empathy in hate speech prevention. Implications for future research will be discussed.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

0 since deposited on 13 Feb 2023
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item