Authors:

Emma Chandler

Date Created:

Not specified

Course Title:

Professor:

Not specified

About Paper:

This study sought to identify correlations between online disinhibition and moral disengagement and their links to empathy, narcissism, and weekly total time spent on Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, and Facebook in undergraduate students. Previous literature revealed many notable connections between these variables. In consideration of such literature, the following hypotheses were formed. Online disinhibition and moral disengagement would be positively correlated. Online disinhibition would be positively correlated with narcissism and social media time, and online disinhibition would be negatively correlated with empathy. Moral disengagement would be positively correlated with narcissism and social media time, and moral disengagement would be negatively correlated with empathy. To test these hypotheses, the Measure of Online Disinhibition, the Moral Disengagement Scale, the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory - Super Short Version, and the General Empathy Scale were administered. Participants were also asked to add their total weekly screen time for Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, and Facebook. Upon IRB approval, eighty-five undergraduate students from psychology, history, mathematics, and art classes were surveyed. All information gathered via packets was voluntarily and confidential. The data gathered demonstrated a positive correlation between online disinhibition and moral disengagement, online disinhibition and narcissism, and moral disengagement and narcissism. A negative correlation was demonstrated between moral disengagement and empathy, and moral disengagement and time spent on social media. No other significant correlations were found. Limitations include the homogeneity of the sample. Future researchers were advised to survey students from different types of universities.

Source:

Auburn University / College of Human Sciences / 2025

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Emma Chandler