Validation of the multidimensional bystander responses to racist hate speech scale and its association with empathy and moral disengagement among adolescents (Aggressive Behavior)

Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the newly developed Multidimensional Bystander Responses to Hate Speech Scale (MBRHS) and to explore demographic differences and correlates of bystander behavior in school hate speech. … our study suggests that empathy is positively correlated with the factors comforting the victim, seeking help at school, and countering hate speech but negatively correlated with helplessness, revenge, reinforcing, and ignoring. Moral disengagement showed the opposite correlational pattern. The findings indicate that the [Multidimensional Bystander Responses to Hate Speech Scale (MBRHS)] is a psychometrically valid and reliable measure that could aid in measuring varied responses to hate speech. In addition, this work highlights the relevance of empathy and moral engagement training in anti-hate speech prevention programs.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ab.22105