Does Moral Identity Matter in Situational Action Theory? Some Evidence of Iranian Fans' Cyberbullying Perpetration. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kabiri, Saeed; Shadmanfaat, Seyyedeh Masoomeh (Shamila); Samuels-Wortley, Kanika; Gallupe, Owen
• Other Names: Caraballo Krystlelynn guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: International criminal justice review. Volume 30:Number 4(2020:Dec.)
• Page Start: 406
• Page End: 420
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: situational action theory -- cyberbullying -- morality -- moral identity; Crime -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; 364
• DOI: 10.1177/1057567720941584
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-5677

Abstract

Situational action theory (SAT) posits that morality plays a core role in determining whether situations are viewed as suitable for crime. However, little attention has been paid to moral identity, the degree to which a person considers morality to occupy a central position in their view of themselves. Using a convenience sample of Iranian soccer fans ( N = 374), we test both the direct and moderated role of moral identity in explaining cyberbullying, an outcome that differs from most SAT research focusing on violent/property crime. We find that fans with a weaker moral identity tend to engage in more cyberbullying and that moral identity significantly interacts with a number of SAT-derived predictors (moral emotions, self-control, perceptual deterrence, and situational morality) in expected ways.