Exploring Malicious Comments behavior on Social Media: An Analysis from Cognition, Affect , and Conation

Abstract

With the development of social media, user behavior on these platforms has become a focal point of research. However, less attention has been paid to irrational information behaviors in the study of social media user behavior. Malicious comments fundamentally reflect the irrational behavior of social media users. This paper, based on the cognition-affect-conation theoretical model, constructs a structural equation model that includes malice, individual constraints, radicalized emotions, and malicious comment behavior. Through 214 questionnaires, SEM is used to analyze the path relationships between cognitive bias, radicalized emotions, and malicious comment behavior, as well as the factors influencing radicalized emotions. The study findings indicate: (1) the objective perception of information malice is not related to malicious comment behavior. (2) Subjectively perceived information malice significantly positively influences both radicalized emotions and malicious comment behavior. (3) Individual cognitive constraints significantly positively influence both radicalized emotions and malicious comment behavior. (4) Radicalized emotions, acting as a mediating variable, significantly positively influence malicious comment behavior. The conclusions of this study will provide theoretical references for publishing accurate information on social media, reducing online hostility, and building a healthy and harmonious online environment.