Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community
Published on: May 31, 2019
Defending Others Online: The Influence of Observing Formal and Informal Social Control on One's Willingness to Defend
Matthew Costello1, James Hawdon2, Ashley V Reichelmann2
1Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice, College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
Online self-help interventions against cyberhate are more likely when individuals feel connected and empathetic. Personal cyberhate experiences also increase intervention likelihood, suggesting pro-social online behavior is contagious.
Area of Science:
- Cyberpsychology
- Social Control Theory
- Online Behavior
Background:
- Cyberhate is a growing online concern.
- Understanding interventions against cyberhate is crucial.
- Informal social control mechanisms play a role in online behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine factors correlated with online self-help interventions after witnessing cyberhate.
- To explore the influence of online and offline social control on self-help enactment.
- To identify predictors of intervention in cyberhate incidents.
Main Methods:
- Online surveys administered to 18- to 26-year-old US respondents.
- Descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression analyses.
- Examination of formal/informal social control, online/offline ties, empathy, and personal cyberhate encounters.
Main Results:
- Online collective efficacy and strong offline/online social ties positively correlate with self-help.
- Formal online social control did not significantly predict self-help.
- Prior personal cyberhate experiences and high empathy increase intervention likelihood.
Conclusions:
- Pro-social online behavior, like self-help against cyberhate, can be contagious.
- Fostering online collective efficacy and social ties may reduce cyberhate.
- Empathy and personal experience are key drivers for intervening in cyberhate attacks.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Bullying
Social Proof
Bystander Effect
Milgram's Obedience to Authority
Group Polarization
Relationship Formation

