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PHIL Short Essay #3

This document discusses the issue of cyberbullying among youth and proposes a theoretical explanation using Choice Theory. It explores how cyberbullies may be attempting to fulfill basic human needs like power, belonging, and fun. While cyberbullying may provide pleasure to the bully, it clearly causes pain to the victim. The document concludes that cyberbullies have low self-esteem and need help, and that continued education is needed to protect people, especially children, from the dangers of technology and promote ethical online behavior.

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Kimberly Carter
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73 views5 pages

PHIL Short Essay #3

This document discusses the issue of cyberbullying among youth and proposes a theoretical explanation using Choice Theory. It explores how cyberbullies may be attempting to fulfill basic human needs like power, belonging, and fun. While cyberbullying may provide pleasure to the bully, it clearly causes pain to the victim. The document concludes that cyberbullies have low self-esteem and need help, and that continued education is needed to protect people, especially children, from the dangers of technology and promote ethical online behavior.

Uploaded by

Kimberly Carter
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Running head: THEORETICAL ETHICAL ARTICLE

Theoretical Ethical Article

Old Dominion University

April 5, 2019

Theoretical Ethical Article


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THEORETICAL ETHICAL ARTICLE

As we evolve with technology so does the practice of cyberbullying which has become

the new way of enabling aggressive forms of abuse through the use of technology, especially by

our youth. This systemic epidemic has not only become widespread, but it is also very

dangerous. In order to propose a theoretical explanation to this problem which continues to grow

and has become the topic of scientific study which is focusing on what is the cause of

cyberbullying as well as how it is affecting society. According to Educational Research

(Tanrikulu, 2014), people who are showing the behaviors of cyberbullying or those attempting to

stop cyberbullying are in great need of studies that will help to diminish such behaviors.

The changes in culture and society as a whole contributes to the impact that cyberbullying has

had on people, not only on the victims, but also on teachers, counselors, parents, etc. who are

doing everything that they can since this has become the responsibility of everyone. There are

many questions being asked such as “What are the motives behind cyberbullying?”, “Are

cyberbullies lacking attention?”, Does social status play a role in cyberbullying? What type of

Cyberbully are we dealing with? a pure bully or a bully-victim? According to Dr. William

Glasser. M.D. Choice Theory suggest that people are responsible for their own individual

choices that they make and that all behavior is purposeful (Tanrikulu, 2014).

Dr. Glasser states that we all have human needs that eventually evolve over time and

becomes a part of our genetic structure (Tanrikulu, 2014). Those needs are Survival which is

having access to food, shelter and safety, Love & Belonging, which is the need for relationship,

social connection and to be a part of a group, Power which is to achieve, be competent and

skilled, Freedom is independence and autonomy, and Fun is to play and laugh and find pleasure.

According to the Choice Theory people have behaviors that relate because their goal is to

appease some of the basic needs. For instance, anyone who shows some sign of aggression also
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THEORETICAL ETHICAL ARTICLE

display signs of cyberbullying. Glasser is showing how children who cyberbully are looking to

satisfy any one of the basic needs. Rather it be the urge for power in order to feel a sense of self-

worth and achievement or the need for fun in order to experience pleasure and laugh (Tanrikulu,

2014). In reality it appears that the person who is doing the bullying is struggling with identity

problems that they feel within themselves and instead of having the correct knowledge on how to

deal with such issues they make the choice to display abnormal and aggressive behaviors.

In relation to Utilitarianism, is the action of cyberbullying morally right or wrong?

According to Jeremy Bentham, hedonism the thing that is good is what is producing pleasure and

as Glasser states one of the basic needs is fun which provides pleasure. To a bully this would

appear to be acceptable to them because it is satisfying one of their basic needs according to

Choice Theory. But what about the victim who is being bullied? Is it okay for the victim to begin

to bully in order to feel the need of Love & Belonging in order to be part of a group? I would

apply Rule Utilitarianism because the bully or the victim should not participate in such actions.

We all have a moral right to do the right thing and follow the rules, because in the end it will

produce the greatest good or happiness. In other words, two wrongs don’t make a right.

In conclusion, people who are participating in cyberbullying are displaying behaviors that

show they are in need of help dealing with their own independent needs such as power. These

people suffer from low self-esteem and self-assurance and never take responsibility for their own

actions. We have to continue to educate ourselves and our children, especially when unethical

behaviors are being exhibited and it is causing hurt and pain. We will always continue to

progress and use technology for what seems for the greater good, but with that being said as a

society we must stand up and work hard to protect people, especially children from the dangers

that come with the use of technology.


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THEORETICAL ETHICAL ARTICLE

References
Cook, C., Williams, K., Guerra, N., Kim, T. and Sadek, S. (2010). Predictors of bullying and
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THEORETICAL ETHICAL ARTICLE

victimization in childhood and adolescence: A meta-analytic investigation. School


Psychology Quarterly, 25(2), pp.65-83.

Gordon, S. (2019). 8 Reasons Why Cyberbullies Lash Out at Others. [online] Verywell Family.
Available at: https://www.verywellfamily.com/reasons-why-kids-cyberbully-others-460553
[Accessed 5 Apr. 2019].

Lpscounseling.com. (2019). [online] Available at: https://www.lpscounseling.com/userfiles


/6436130/file/Choice%20Theory%20PDF.pdf [Accessed 5 Apr. 2019].

MediaSmarts. (2019). Ethics and Cyberbullying. [online] Available at: http://mediasmarts.ca


/digital-media-literacy/digital-issues/online-ethics/ethics-cyberbullying [Accessed 5 Apr. 2019].

Olivas, J. (2019). Choice Theory | Psychology Student. [online] Jlo62581.wordpress.com.


Available at: https://jlo62581.wordpress.com/tag/choice-theory/ [Accessed 6 Apr. 2019].

Tanrikulu,, T. (2014). Cyberbullying from the perspective of choice theory. Educational


Research and Reviews, 9(18), pp.660-665.

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