PSYCHOLOGICAL PECULIARITIES OF THE PERSONALITY OF CYBERBULLING PARTICIPANTS IN POPULAR SOCIAL NETWORKS

Abstract

The research is devoted to the insufficiently known Internet-phenomenon - cyber-bullying in social networks. Cyber-bullying is a new field of knowledge and science, that is why there is a lack of scientific terminological base. Aim. To analyze the personal characteristics of cyber-bullying participants actively included in popular social networks. Methodology. The research was performed in on-line format. The respondents were offered a survey and a psychodiagnostic examination in accordance with the tasks of the study. The empirical research included the methods of a survey and testing. Results. The analysis of the features and transformations of the role structure of cyber-bullying in the network compared to the real-life bullying among users of popular social networks made it possible to reveal personal characteristics and behavioral strategies of its participants. Special attention should be paid to the “observers” of cyber-bullying: the more the respondent is an “observer” the more it is the possible for him to become the “initiator” of cyber-bullying (the moderate positive correlation between the scales “observer” and “initiator”). On the one hand, the previous experience of being an aggressor in the on-line context can become the factor which intensifies the negative behavior of observers. On the other hand, constant following the bullying in the net can result in the loss of sensitivity to other people’s feelings and may also result in fixing destructive forms of behavior owing to the feeling of impunity and anonymity in the on-line environment. Research implications. The results of the analysis of role profiles can be used for timely diagnostics of risk groups and improve the work of psychological services and specialized sites for the prevention of cyber-bullying.