• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze responses as bystanders of middle school girls in a simulated cyberbullying situation. This study also aimed to examine effects of bullying, victimization, anger-out, and state-anger on responses from girls as bystanders. The participants were composed of 2nd or 3rd grade middle school girls(N=59). Responses were classified into 7 categories(using explicit language, attacking, pass, changing topic, comforting victims, others, and conformity). Of these, attackings were classified according to the target(bully, victim, both, and ambiguous object). It was again classified as 'attacking response' and 'helping response' and was scored and summed according to the strength of the response and used as a dependent variable. Collected data were analyzed by correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. The results of this study are as follows: First, the most frequent response was 'the others'(41.69%) followed by 'using explicit language'(20.34%), 'passing'(13.56%), 'attacking bully'(8.81%), 'conformity'(8.64%), 'changing topic'(6.61%), and 'comforting victim'(0.34%). Second, responses of attacking victim were positively influenced by the previous bullying experiences and acting anger-out, and were negatively influenced by the previous victimization experience. State-anger has a positively influenced on responses of the attacking bully and the helping victim. None of the variables were significant influenced on responses of the attacking both and ambiguous object. These results will be useful data to help middle school girls as bystanders properly intervene in cyberbullying situation. Finally, the limitations of this study were discussed along with suggestions for further research.