title: Hurtful cyber-teasing and violence: who's laughing out loud?
abstract: The current study sought to specifically examine the affect of teasing by way of technology (cyber-teasing) and the importance of the redressive component of a tease. A triangulated approach was used here to gain better insight into the concept of "hurtful" cyber-teasing between romantic partners. A pretheoretical model was developed highlighting the possible associations between teasing via technology and relational outcomes. Findings provide researchers with the prevalence of hurtful cyber-teasing and the associated personal and relational outcomes. In addition, the relationship between hurtful cyber-teasing and the reasons why certain messages escalated into face-to-face verbal aggression and physical violence were also revealed. These results are discussed in light of the inability of technology to fully transmit the redressive nonverbal component of a cyber-tease.
authors: Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Texas 78041, USA. paul.madlock@tamiu.edu
authors: Paul E
authors: PE
authors: Madlock
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Westerman
mesh_terms: D057218:Blogging; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007845:Laughter; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*