Affiliation:
1. Maastricht University, The Netherlands
2. IILM Institute for Higher Education, India
Abstract
Cyber victimization is a phenomenon where people are subjected to cyber bullying through online harassment, exposure to unsolicited sexual content, and hurtful comments. This phenomenon is said to induce embarrassment, traumatic experiences, and in severe cases, psychopathological cascades. Social withdrawal, shame, and social anxiety are commonly witnessed in victims of cyber bullying. According to previous research and substantiated theories, women are more commonly the victims of online abuse. In such a scenario, a discussion regarding clear definition of cyber victimization, social media addiction processes, prevalence of gender differences, and effects of cyber victimization is important. This chapter aims to review all these relevant topics and discuss neuropsychological mechanisms underlying these processes.