Why do we share aggressive online content? Testing a short cycle model

Abstract

The present study aimed to observe the impacts of aggressive online content exposure and personality on aggressive content sharing, considering the mediating role of positive and negative affects. A total of 302 Brazilians, equally divided into two groups, participated in a social network simulation, being exposed to aggressive (experimental group) or neutral (control group) posts and choosing what they would like to share on this site (among aggressive or nonaggressive material). A factorial MANOVA showed a significant difference for positive and negative affects and aggressive content sharing (Wilks' Λ = 0.936; F[3, 298] = 6.812; p = .001; η2 = 0.064). Through structural equation modeling, an explanatory model was also tested, in which this behavior was directly predicted by aggressive online content exposure and suffered indirect effects from openness, conscientiousness, and extroversion, mediated by positive affects (goodness‐of‐fit index = 0.997, comparative fit‐index = 0.998, Tucker‐Lewis index = 0.996, SRMR = 0.028, root‐mean‐square error of approximation = 0.035, CI = 0.003−0.054). It is possible to conclude that the objectives are met, highlighting the contribution to understanding aggressive online behavior through the proximal processes described in the general aggression model.

Superhero media, aggression, and prosocialness: Relations in adults and gender's moderating role

“…The present study expands on this statement, indicating that this impact can occur in negative emotions, subsequently increasing the likelihood of aggression. Previous studies with GAM also corroborate this mediation of emotions in the effects on aggressive behavioral tendencies (e.g., Barlett & Anderson, 2012;Cavalcanti & Pimentel, 2016;Santos et al, 2022). Future studies can further investigate this mediation using longitudinal and experimental designs.…”

“…Studies using GAM have consistently demonstrated that violent media (that depicts any form of aggression) is one of the risk factors for aggressive behavior, both directly after exposure (e.g., Bushman & Anderson, 2002; Santos et al, 2022) and increasing trait aggression (e.g., Anderson, Bushman, et al, 2017; Miles‐Novelo et al, 2022). However, when the focus is superhero media, mixed results are found.…”