article

Explanations for the perpetration of and reactions to deception in a virtual community

Authors:

Adam N. Joinson,

Beth Dietz-UhlerAuthors Info & Claims

Social Science Computer Review, Volume 20, Issue 3

Pages 275 - 289

https://doi.org/10.1177/08939302020003005

Published: 01 September 2002 Publication History

Abstract

Cases of identity deception on the Internet are not uncommon. Several cases of a revealed identity deception have been reported in the media. In this article, the authors examine a case of deception in an online community composed primarily of information technology professionals. In this case, an established community member (DF) invented a character (Nowheremom) whom he fell in love with and who was eventually killed in a tragic accident. When other members of the community eventually began to question Nowheremom's actual identity, DF admitted that he invented her. The discussion board was flooded with reactions to DF's revelation. The authors propose several explanations for the perpetration of identity deception, including psychiatric illness, identity play, and expressions of true self. They also analyze the reactions of community members and propose three related explanations (social identity, deviance, and norm violation) to account for their reactions. It is argued that virtual communities' reactions to such threatening events provide invaluable clues for the study of group processes on the Internet.

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Cited By

Li WChen M(2022)How online social interactions predict the sense of virtual community via social capitalComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2022.107347135:COnline publication date: 1-Oct-2022
Burzo MAbouelenien MPerez-Rosas VMihalcea R(2018)Multimodal deception detectionThe Handbook of Multimodal-Multisensor Interfaces10.1145/3107990.3108005(419-453)Online publication date: 1-Oct-2018
(2018)The Handbook of Multimodal-Multisensor InterfacesundefinedOnline publication date: 1-Oct-2018
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Index Terms

Explanations for the perpetration of and reactions to deception in a virtual community
1. Applied computing
  1. Law, social and behavioral sciences
    1. Psychology
2. Social and professional topics
  1. Computing / technology policy

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Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

Social Science Computer Review Volume 20, Issue 3

Special issue: Psychology and the internet

Fall 2002

138 pages

ISSN:0894-4393

Issue’s Table of Contents

Publisher

Sage Publications, Inc.

United States

Publication History

Published: 01 September 2002

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Cited By

Li WChen M(2022)How online social interactions predict the sense of virtual community via social capitalComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2022.107347135:COnline publication date: 1-Oct-2022
Burzo MAbouelenien MPerez-Rosas VMihalcea R(2018)Multimodal deception detectionThe Handbook of Multimodal-Multisensor Interfaces10.1145/3107990.3108005(419-453)Online publication date: 1-Oct-2018
(2018)The Handbook of Multimodal-Multisensor InterfacesundefinedOnline publication date: 1-Oct-2018
Ho SHancock JBooth C(2017)Ethical dilemmaJournal of the Association for Information Science and Technology10.1002/asi.2384968:12(2729-2742)Online publication date: 8-Nov-2017
Drouin MMiller DWehle SHernandez E(2016)Why do people lie online? Because everyone lies on the internetComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2016.06.05264:C(134-142)Online publication date: 1-Nov-2016
Myers CKostek JEkeh BSanchez REbanks-Williams YKrusznis AWeinflash NServatius R(2016)Watch what I do, not what I say I doComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2015.07.06755:PB(804-816)Online publication date: 1-Feb-2016
Pérez-Rosas VAbouelenien MMihalcea RBurzo MZhang ZCohen PBohus DHoraud RMeng H(2015)Deception Detection using Real-life Trial DataProceedings of the 2015 ACM on International Conference on Multimodal Interaction10.1145/2818346.2820758(59-66)Online publication date: 9-Nov-2015
Hooi RCho H(2013)Deception in avatar-mediated virtual environmentComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2012.09.00429:1(276-284)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2013
Morgan ESnelson CElison-Bowers P(2010)Image and video disclosure of substance use on social media websitesComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2010.04.01726:6(1405-1411)Online publication date: 1-Nov-2010
Blanchard A(2008)Testing a model of sense of virtual communityComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2007.10.00224:5(2107-2123)Online publication date: 1-Sep-2008
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