Cyber-Me - Analyzing the Effects of Perceived Stigma of Physically Disabled People on the Disguise of the Real Self in Virtual Environments

Lennart Jaeger, Julia Kroenung, Arne Kupetz
2013 International Conference on Information Systems  
Several studies reveal the option to disguise a disability in online interaction, but none sufficiently analyzes the various factors contributing to a disguise. The primary aim of this paper is to quantify the impact of social psychological factors like stigma consciousness (i.e. expectation of prejudice and discrimination in social interaction) and self-consciousness on the disguise of the real self in online environments among people with physical disabilities. This paper uses data from an
more » ... ine survey with 130 participants to construct a conceptual model related to these factors. Findings reveal that stigma consciousness positively impacts the disguise of the real self. While the body and a physical disability may not be present in the online environment, it plays an important role in how people with disabilities present themselves when they expect stigmatization.
dblp:conf/icis/JaegerKK13 fatcat:7c4autmkt5ebnheantryt52phu