Start Date
12-16-2013
Description
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) and self-consciousness on the disguise of the real self in online environments among people with physical disabilities. This paper uses data from an online 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.
Recommended Citation
Jaeger, Lennart; Krönung, Julia; and Kupetz, Arne, "Cyber-Me – Analyzing the Effects of Perceived Stigma of Physically Disabled People on the Disguise of the Real Self in Virtual Environments" (2013). ICIS 2013 Proceedings. 2.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2013/proceedings/ConferenceTheme/2
Cyber-Me – Analyzing the Effects of Perceived Stigma of Physically Disabled People on the Disguise of the Real Self in Virtual Environments
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) and self-consciousness on the disguise of the real self in online environments among people with physical disabilities. This paper uses data from an online 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.