Syrjämäki Aleksi H, Ilves Mirja, Olsson Thomas, Kiskola Joel, Isokoski Poika, Rantasila Anna, Bente Gary, Surakka Veikko
Research Group for Emotions, Sociality, and Computing, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Technology and Social Interaction Research Group, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Sci Rep. 2024 Dec 3;14(1):30019. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-81086-7.
Uncivil online communication is a widely problematized cultural by-product of computer-mediated communication that, however, remains theoretically underexplained. While previous research shows that personal tendency for uncivil communication is partially influenced by individuals' personality and empathy skills, the factors of inter-individual variation remain largely unknown. The present study examined individuals' emotion regulation skills as a possible predictor of uncivil communication. Online survey respondents (N = 215) reported if they had engaged in uncivil communication and filled in scales measuring emotion regulation difficulties, use of different emotion regulation strategies, and various individual traits. The results show that emotion regulation difficulties were associated with high levels of online disinhibition. This, in turn, was associated with reports of uncivil communication. The mediation effect was observed even when controlling for personality and empathy. The results suggest that individuals' emotion regulation difficulties may be an underlying psychological factor behind harmful online communication. These findings call for research and development of means to support emotion regulation in online interactions.
不文明的网络交流是计算机介导交流中一个广受质疑的文化副产品，然而，从理论角度来看，它仍未得到充分解释。虽然先前的研究表明，不文明交流的个人倾向部分受到个体性格和共情能力的影响，但个体间差异的因素在很大程度上仍不为人所知。本研究考察了个体的情绪调节技能，将其作为不文明交流的一个可能预测指标。在线调查的受访者（N = 215）报告了他们是否参与过不文明交流，并填写了测量情绪调节困难、不同情绪调节策略的使用以及各种个体特质的量表。结果表明，情绪调节困难与高水平的网络去抑制有关。反过来，这又与不文明交流的报告有关。即使在控制了性格和共情因素后，仍观察到了中介效应。结果表明，个体的情绪调节困难可能是有害网络交流背后的一个潜在心理因素。这些发现呼吁开展研究并开发手段，以支持在线互动中的情绪调节。
