COVID-19 JUSTICE WARRIORS: IMPACT OF JUSTICE-RELATED DISPOSITIONS ON SUPPORT FOR CYBER VIGILANTISM

Abstract

The prevalence of cyber vigilantism during this COVID-19 pandemic crisis is an imminent issue that warrants our attention. However, there is a dearth of research regarding cyber vigilantism, especially from a personality perspective. Therefore, the current study aims to address this gap by examining the impact of justice-related dispositions such as legal authoritarianism and observer sensitivity on support for cyber vigilantism. Additionally, perceived severity of transgression was examined as a potential mediator. A total of 647 Singaporean participants (Mage = 23.16 years, SDage = 4.97) completed an anonymous online survey. Results indicated that legal authoritarianism (B = 0.04, 95% CI [0.01, 0.07], p = 0.022) and observer sensitivity (B = 0.02, 95% CI [0.01, 0.04], p = 0.007) significantly predicted support for cyber vigilantism, but only indirectly through perceived severity of transgression. When perceived severity of transgression was controlled for, legal authoritarianism and observer sensitivity did not significantly predict support for cyber vigilantism, indicating a possibility of full mediation, albeit unlikely. The overall model predicted support for cyber vigilantism modestly, accounting for approximately three percent of the variance. Findings of this study may have legal implications with regards to trials for cyber vigilantes and potential legal reforms.