Online shaming may be driven by status-seeking and satisfaction, study finds
A survey of 1,000 adults suggests people support online vigilantism due to schadenfreude and moral grandstanding.
A survey of 1,000 adults in South Korea has linked support for online vigilantism to psychological factors like status-seeking and personal satisfaction, according to a Times of India report.
The study, conducted by Dosun Kim and Yeon Soo Kim for the journal Computers in Human Behavior, examined the motivations behind public shaming on digital platforms.
Researchers found that individuals who experience schadenfreude, or pleasure from the misfortune of others, are more likely to view online vigilantism as a way to maintain social order.
The findings also highlighted the role of moral grandstanding, where people express moral views to gain social prestige.
Those inclined toward prestige-seeking moral grandstanding often view online shaming as a consequence of alleged immoral behaviour rather than a personal action.
The study noted that even passive spectators who only observe online controversies can hold the belief that public exposure is an effective tool for social regulation.