An Integrative Theory Addressing Cyberharassment in the Light of Technology-Based Opportunism

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Lowry, Paul Benjamin; Zhang, Jun; Moody, Gregory D.; Chatterjee, Sutirtha; Wang, Chuang; Wu, Tailai
• 署名单位: Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Science & Technology of China, CAS; Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE); University of Nevada Las Vegas; Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE); University of Nevada Las Vegas; South China University of Technology; Huazhong University of Science & Technology
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0742-1222
• DOI: 10.1080/07421222.2019.1661090
• 发表日期: 2019
• 页码: 1142-1178
• 关键词: social-learning theory; self-control theory; general-theory; online disinhibition; deviant-behavior; empirical status; crime; deterrence; neutralization; CONSEQUENCES

摘要

Scholars are increasingly calling for a deeper understanding of cyberharassment (CH) with the goal of devising policies, procedures, and technologies to mitigate it. Accordingly, we conducted CH research that (1) integrated social learning theory (SLT) and self-control theory (SCT); (2) empirically studied this model with two contrasting samples, experienced cyberharassers and less experienced cyberharassers; and (3) conducted post hoc tests to tease out the differences between the two samples. We show that for less experienced cyberharassers, CH is largely a social-psychological-technological phenomenon; whereas, for experienced cyberharassers, CH is primarily a psychological-technological phenomenon. Our study makes a threefold contribution: (1) it shows the value of integrating two theories in a holistic and parsimonious manner to explain CH; (2) it shows that SCT alone is a more relevant framework for experienced cyberharassers, whereas a combination of SCT and SLT better explains less experienced cyberharassers; and (3) it reveals that the role of technology in fostering CH is crucial, regardless of the sample. The differential, yet consistent, findings demonstrate that addressing CH is contingent upon not only identifying theoretical approaches but also identifying the particular samples to which these theoretical approaches will be more suitable. Of several implications for practice, the most important may be that anonymity, asynchronicity, and lack of monitoring are the technology choices that foster CH, and thus these should be mitigated in designing social media and other communication technologies