Dangerous minds? Effects of uncivil online comments on aggressive cognitions, emotions, and behavior. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rösner, Leonie; Winter, Stephan; Krämer, Nicole C.
• Is Part Of: Computers in human behavior. Volume 58(2016)
• Page Start: 461
• Page End: 470
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Social influence -- Online comments -- Incivility -- Social modeling -- Social learning -- Conformity; Interactive computer systems -- Periodicals; Man-machine systems -- Periodicals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2016.01.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0747-5632

Abstract

Abstract: Despite the potential of online commenting spaces for public deliberation, they are often full of destructive or uncivil and aggressive comments. Based on research on social learning and social influence, we conducted an online experiment to investigate the effects of uncivil comments on readers' cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions. The experiment was built on a one-factorial between-subjects design including four experimental conditions and a control group: Participants were exposed to a news article and six user comments of which zero, one, three, or six were uncivil. Results suggest that exposure to uncivil comments can lead to an increase in readers' hostile cognitions. The effect, however, does not rise with exposure to a higher proportion of incivility. No significant effects were found on hostile emotions or the use of incivility in readers' own comments. Highlights: Exposure to uncivil comments leads to an increase in readers' hostile cognitions. Even one single uncivil comment could serve as a trigger for hostile cognitions. No (linear) increase with exposure to a higher proportion of incivility. No support for social modeling effects on readers' own incivility in comments.