Introduction: Recent studies have underscored the influence of personality traits in predicting deviant behaviors in online contexts. Among these traits, the Honesty-Humility dimension of the HEXACO model (Ashton & Lee, 2009) has emerged as a key protective factor against various forms of antisocial behavior. Individuals with lower levels of Honesty-Humility are more prone to moral disengagement (Guo et al., 2023), a cognitive mechanism that enables them to rationalize or minimize the impact of their harmful actions (Bandura, 1996). Moral disengagement may thus mediate the link between personality and online misconduct. Two forms of online misconduct are aggravated sexting (Wolak & Finkelhor, 2011)—sharing someone’s intimate images without consent—and cyberstalking, which involves persistent digital harassment and control (Smoker & March, 2017). Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the Honesty-Humility personality trait, moral disengagement, and specific forms of online aggression—cyberstalking and aggravated sexting—among young adults. The sample consisted of 397 participants aged 18 to 30 years (Mage = 22.80, SD = 2.78), recruited from various universities in Rome, who completed an online survey. Results: A path analysis revealed that the association between Honesty-Humility and online aggressive behaviors was mediated by moral disengagement, controlling for other personality traits, age, and gender. Lower scores of Honesty-Humility predicted higher scores of moral disengagement, β = -.30, p < .001, which in turn were associated with increased involvement in both cyberstalking, β = .23, p < .001, and aggravated sexting, β = .16, p < .001. The indirect effects were all significant, indicating the mediating role of moral disengagement. Conclusion: These findings highlight the role of personality dispositions and moral-cognitive processes in explaining online aggression. Interventions aimed at fostering moral engagement and promoting positive personality traits may be effective in reducing harmful online behaviors among young adults.
When Morality Fades: The Mediating Role of Moral Disengagement in the Relationship between Honesty-Humility Trait and Cyber Aggression / Ragona, Alessandra; Morelli, Mara; Chirumbolo, Antonio. - (2025). (Intervento presentato al convegno XIX Congresso Nazionale della Sezione di Psicologia Sociale dell’Associazione Italiana di Psicologia (AIP) [XIX National Congress of the Social Psychology Section of the Italian Association of Psychology (AIP)] tenutosi a Bergamo, Italia).
When Morality Fades: The Mediating Role of Moral Disengagement in the Relationship between Honesty-Humility Trait and Cyber Aggression
Alessandra RagonaPrimo
;Mara MorelliSecondo
;Antonio ChirumboloUltimo
2025
Abstract
Introduction: Recent studies have underscored the influence of personality traits in predicting deviant behaviors in online contexts. Among these traits, the Honesty-Humility dimension of the HEXACO model (Ashton & Lee, 2009) has emerged as a key protective factor against various forms of antisocial behavior. Individuals with lower levels of Honesty-Humility are more prone to moral disengagement (Guo et al., 2023), a cognitive mechanism that enables them to rationalize or minimize the impact of their harmful actions (Bandura, 1996). Moral disengagement may thus mediate the link between personality and online misconduct. Two forms of online misconduct are aggravated sexting (Wolak & Finkelhor, 2011)—sharing someone’s intimate images without consent—and cyberstalking, which involves persistent digital harassment and control (Smoker & March, 2017). Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the Honesty-Humility personality trait, moral disengagement, and specific forms of online aggression—cyberstalking and aggravated sexting—among young adults. The sample consisted of 397 participants aged 18 to 30 years (Mage = 22.80, SD = 2.78), recruited from various universities in Rome, who completed an online survey. Results: A path analysis revealed that the association between Honesty-Humility and online aggressive behaviors was mediated by moral disengagement, controlling for other personality traits, age, and gender. Lower scores of Honesty-Humility predicted higher scores of moral disengagement, β = -.30, p < .001, which in turn were associated with increased involvement in both cyberstalking, β = .23, p < .001, and aggravated sexting, β = .16, p < .001. The indirect effects were all significant, indicating the mediating role of moral disengagement. Conclusion: These findings highlight the role of personality dispositions and moral-cognitive processes in explaining online aggression. Interventions aimed at fostering moral engagement and promoting positive personality traits may be effective in reducing harmful online behaviors among young adults.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
