Bryon likes to spend time in a Facebook group devoted to a specific hobby. He looks for ways to irritate other members, posting inflammatory comments and "trolling" the group. He does so because he knows that nobody will ever really identify him, since he uses a fake name online. The fact that he can reduce a sense of personal responsibility by hiding his identity is what social psychologists call ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Deindividuation refers to the loss of self-awareness and personal responsibility that can occur when people are part of a group, especially when they are anonymous. In this scenario, Bryon feels less accountable for his behavior because he has hidden his identity behind a fake name.

Bryon Likes to Spend Time in a Facebook Group Devoted