Moral Disengagement and The Effect on Cyberbullying Among Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract

Cyberbullying is a complex occurrence in which its damages are widely studied upon. However, few have analyzed the complex intrinsic correlations between cyberbullying and the concept of moral disengagement that originated from developmental psychology, especially upon influences of moral disengagement on cyberbullying. Hence, this paper aims to do so through summarizing the influences of relationship factors on moral disengagement, and analyzing the internal and external mechanisms of cyberbullying impacted by moral disengagement. Specifically, peer norms deeply affect adolescents and young adults’ perspectives on society and morality through pressuring and responsibility-shifting, hence supporting the action of cyberbullying. Furthermore, moral disengagement could support cyberbullying through forming in-groups and out-groups, changing the way of internalization of cyberbullying perpetration, providing justification for cyberbullying, and etc. Through examining this topic, the reduction and prevention of cyberbullying could be supported. In addition, the analysis could help understand the level of impact that societal relationships have on adolescents and young adults’ view of moral behaviors and decisions.