Abstract
Cyberbulling is a psychosocial phenomenon in which, the behavior of the spectators, is crucial in the dynamic; however, it is known little about how and why these respond to the phenomenon.
The study pretends to identify the answers of the spectators in front of cyberbulling; analyze the differences between witnesses and non-witnesses, of episodes of cyberbulling; and to explore if the need of popularity, perceived self-sufficiency and the social standards predict the answers. 835 adolescents between 11 to 18 years old partici
pated.
The results showed that the defending answer was the most common, although with differences among the ones that had witnessed cyberbulling episode (predominantly passive) and who did not (mainly defensive). These answers were explained by the variables already mentioned: passive (self–sufficiency and standards of friends); defenders (self–efficacy, standards of teachers and the need of popularity; reinforcers (standards of friends, family and teachers and, the need of popularity).
The findings are relevant for the development of psychoeducational prevention programs.
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