With the growing prevalence of social media use among adolescents, its potential negative consequences warrant serious attention. This longitudinal study examined the associations between three common types of cyber social ostracism, namely cyber personal chat ostracism, cyber group chat ostracism, and cyber personal space ostracism, and adolescent suicidality and bullying behavior, as well as the mediating roles of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. A total of 5478 adolescents were assessed across three waves spaced 6 months apart. The results showed that all three forms of online ostracism significantly predicted adolescents' suicidality through elevated thwarted belongingness, and that cyber personal chat ostracism and cyber personal space ostracism further increased suicidality via perceived burdensomeness. Multi-group analyzes demonstrated that the indirect pathway from cyber personal chat ostracism to suicidality via thwarted belongingness was significantly stronger for girls than for boys, whereas other pathways did not differ by gender. These findings highlight the distinct psychological mechanisms linking online ostracism to self-directed suicidality in adolescents, and underscore the importance of considering gender differences in prevention and intervention efforts.

ABSTRACTBullying during adolescence implies different forms of involvement that shape specific profiles, whose identification allows for understanding this phenomenon. However, it is essential to explore the mechanisms associated with the persistence or change of these profiles over time. Co‐rumination may be crucial as a social‐cognitive process in bullying development, reinforcing negative thought patterns among peers. The aim of this study was to examine involvement in bullying by identifying participation profiles and analyzing their longitudinal probability of stability or transition according to adolescents' levels of co‐rumination. A total of 1537 adolescents aged 12–16 years (54% boys and 46% girls; MAgeT1 = 12.98, SD = 0.82) participated at two time points 1 year apart. The latent profile analysis conducted with Mplus 8.10 identified three bullying profiles: bully‐victims, victims, and uninvolved, which showed stability across both time points. There was a tendency for bully‐victims and victims to transition toward the uninvolved profile, although bully‐victims also showed some probability of subsequently adopting the victim role. When considering co‐rumination, adolescents with higher levels were more likely to belong to the victim profile across both assessments. Regarding transitions, the findings revealed that an increase in co‐rumination was associated with a higher probability that victims maintain this profile, as well as with the transition of bully‐victims toward victimization. These results provide a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics of bullying profiles and offer valuable insights for designing interventions aimed at promoting effective coping strategies.

Guided by social exchange theory, we conducted two experiments and a longitudinal field study to examine the role of trust as a mediator between victimization from two forms of online mistreatment (cyber-incivility and cyberbullying) and three relational outcomes: supervisor satisfaction, organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), and counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs). In Experiment 1, 90 employees were randomly assigned to read email exchanges that contained either uncivil, cyberbullying, or neutral messages between a co-worker and a team leader. Results indicated that participants perceived the leader as less trustworthy when cyber-incivility or cyberbullying messages were communicated. In Experiment 2, 136 employees were randomly assigned to read a series of email exchanges between a co-worker and a team leader that were either low or high in trust. Participants reported greater satisfaction and likelihood of engaging in OCBs and lower likelihood of engaging in CWBs with a highly (as compared to low) trustworthy leader. In the longitudinal field study, 313 employed adults completed four waves of an online survey. Findings indicated that trust mediated the relationships between cyber-incivility or cyberbullying victimization and supervisor satisfaction and OCBs (but not CWBs). Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

This study examined sources of heterogeneity in antisocial behaviors in a large-scale and nationally representative sample of n = 7655 youth from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study. Separate latent profile analyses were conducted for males and females using indicators of physical aggression, relational aggression, callous-unemotional (CU) traits, and conduct symptom severity. Distinct profiles emerged within each sex. Among females, profiles were primarily differentiated by levels of CU traits, whereas among males, physical aggression played a more central role in distinguishing groups. In both sexes, a higher-risk profile characterized by elevated aggression and/or CU traits was identified alongside a lower-severity marked by minimal conduct problems and aggression. Profiles also differed significantly in overall distress, with the higher-risk male profile demonstrating the greatest distress and the lower-risk female profile the least. Findings highlight meaningful sex-specific configurations of aggression and CU traits and underscore the importance of person-centered, sex-informed approaches to developmental models, assessment, and intervention in youth with antisocial behavior.

Although collective violence remains a pervasive issue affecting many societies today, the specific psychological mechanisms underlying individual differences in support for collective violence are relatively understudied. In four studies, using five samples from Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey (total N = 3758), we conceptualize and develop a new multidimensional scale for measuring individual differences in collective violence beliefs. Contrary to some prior theorizing and extant research on interpersonal violence, we found that people's justifications for collective violence are structured based on the target of the act rather than the intensity of the violent act. Consequently, we developed and validated a Two-Dimensional Collective Violence Beliefs Scale (CVBS: 2D) that distinguishes between violence targeted at outgroup members, referred to as diffuse collective violence, and violence targeted at outgroup leaders, which we term upward collective violence. We validate this novel scale in multiple contexts and discuss the implications of the two dimensions of collective violence revealed in this study.

Animal harm often results in lenient legal responses, with prosecutions primarily targeting offenses against companion animals, while cases involving farm animals remain significantly underreported. This study examined pet-favoritism bias in moral judgments, highlighting how animal category can shape perceptions of cruelty. Participants (N = 569) evaluated sadistic harm toward either pet or farm animals by rating proposed prison sentences and moral condemnation. They also reported pet ownership, dietary habits, political orientation, religiosity, and beliefs about human superiority. The results confirmed pet-favoritism, with harm to pets prompting greater moral condemnation and harsher punishment. Moderation analyses showed this bias was more pronounced among meat-eaters, non-pet owners, and those who believed in human superiority. We discuss the mechanisms underlying more lenient judgments of animal harm.