Abstract:

One of the prominent issues in interpersonal relationships is aggressive attitudes. Those are evaluated within certain conceptual structures. Peer bullying could be considered as reflection of aggression. Bullying has moved from social environments to virtual environments today. In terms of moral judgement and emotional factors, relationships between cyberbullying, which appear in the virtual environment and are the transformation of peer bullying in the cyber world, attract significant attention. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between peer bullying and victimization, cyber bullying, moral disengagement and empathic concern. For this purpose, data were collected from 270 participants, 210 female and 60 male young adults. Participants determined through convenience sampling were students at different universities in İstanbul. Peer Bullying Scale, Moral Disengagement Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index and Cyberbullying Scale were applied to the participants. Relationships between independent and dependent variables were tested with Pearson Product Moment Correlation, Simple Linear and Multiple Regression Analysis. It was found that peer bullying, victimization of peer bullying and moral disengagement significantly predicted cyberbullying as a result of simple regression analysis. In addition, it was seen that moral disengagement and empathic concern predicted peer bullying and victimization. Considering the relationships between peer bullying and cyberbullying, which are the continuation of each other, the main purpose of the study was discussed in the context of moral disengagement tendency, moral cognition and empathic concern. Elements of empathy and moral cognition should be included in both peer bullying and cyberbullying prevention and intervention programs.

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