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Bystanders’ Experience in Cyber Bullying among Adolescents: Focused on Group Chat Room

  • THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
  • 2020, 33(3), pp.65-88
  • DOI : 10.35574/KJDP.2020.9.33.3.65
  • Publisher : The Korean Society For Developmental Psychology
  • Research Area : Social Science > Psychological Science
  • Received : April 15, 2020
  • Accepted : August 20, 2020
  • Published : September 15, 2020

Seo, Mijung 1

1제주대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study explored the experiences of bystanders who witness cyber bullying among middle school adolescents using focus group interviews(FGI). The focus was on limiting group chat rooms. The cyber bystanders were silent, joined the bullying, or spreaded rumor about the victim online. There were also bystanders’ responses to leave the chat room, invite the teacher to the chat room to attempt intervention, and support the victim. The responses of bystanders in cyber bullying were influenced by social relationships, the powers of bystanders who help victims as well as the bullies, the blame on the victims, and the pressure or mood of the group. Bystanders’ reasons and motivations for responses were mentioned psychological burdens such as fear of being bullied, anxiety about being punished if involved, and perception of loss. Additionally, there were bystanders who think they had nothing to do with cyber bullying, who want to get acquainted with the bullies, hoping to help the teacher to solve the problem, and supporting them by empathizing with the victims. This study provided an opportunity to further approach their life and culture by viewing and understanding cyber bullying from the perspective of adolescents.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.