Socio-Cognitive Processes and Peer-Network Influences in Defending and Bystanding

Abstract

Peers are critical to defending and bystanding during episodes of bullying. This study investigates the extent to which friends can shape defending and bystanding as well as social cognitions associated with these two behaviors (i.e., perceptions of self-efficacy and moral distress). The study sample consisted of n = 1354 early and middle adolescents (7th‒10th grade; 81.4% Italian; 51.3% boys) in northern Italy. Employing a longitudinal social network analytic approach, using stochastic actor-oriented modeling, this study found that adolescents become more similar or stay similar to their friends in both behaviors and perceptions, with no clear indication that students select friends based on similar levels of behaviors or perceptions. The findings illustrate how defending and bystanding behaviors and related social cognitions are developed within friend (peer) networks.

An empirical evaluation of the predictors and consequences of social media health-misinformation seeking behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…the number of users and the flow of content) and individuals' information-sharing behavior (Wang et al , 2021). Social cognitive theory proposes that environmental factors, such as media reach (numerous users' contacts), richness (massive information flow) and peer effect, interact to influence human behavior and expected outcomes (Rambaran et al , 2022). Thus, peer influence within a network can play a causal role in developing certain behaviors, such as social media health-misinformation seeking behavior and its outcomes, that is, social media users' anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”