3879 - LIVING WELL IN THE DIGITAL AGE: THE SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF ONLINE COMMUNICATION AND SHAMING

Session: 3846 - ASPECTS OF LIVING A GOOD LIFE IN EAST ASIA
AUTHORS:
Hashimoto Takaaki (Toyo University ~ Tokyo ~ Japan)
Abstract text:
This talk examines how online communication—especially the rise of social media—shapes our everyday moral life and sense of well-being. Digital platforms have become indispensable spaces for social interaction, self-expression, and moral discourse. While these technologies enable connection and collective action, they also generate new psychological and social challenges. As an empirical illustration, I will introduce recent research on online shaming, in which individuals publicly condemn moral transgressions via social media. In a study based on Japanese participants, we found that individuals' praise-seeking motives predict their willingness to engage in online shaming, but this effect was moderated by whether the situational norm supported or discouraged shaming. The findings highlight the powerful roles of both the individual motives and the social context in guiding online moral behaviors. By situating these results within the broader cultural frameworks of East Asia, characterized by strong interdependence and sensitivity to social evaluation, I will discuss how online spaces affect how people "live a good life" by simultaneously satisfying and threatening psychological needs of belonging and moral standing.