Why Do People Sometimes Wear an Anonymous Mask? Motivations for Seeking Anonymity Online
Open accessAbstract
Anonymous environments are more accessible than ever. As such, it is important to understand not only how anonymity can change human behavior but also why people are motivated to seek anonymity in online spaces. In four studies, we investigated differences in motivations for seeking anonymity online and their associations with related dispositional factors and online behavior. We found that some people were motivated to seek anonymity to self-express or behave toxically. Both motivations to seek anonymity were associated with low self-concept clarity and high Machiavellianism but differed in their relation to traits such as self-consciousness and psychopathy. Further analyses suggested that people selectively engage in behaviors in anonymous online environments, in line with the specific gratifications they seek through anonymity. We conclude that people seek anonymity to pursue self- or other-related goals that are otherwise more difficult or costly to pursue when identifiable.
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- Authors
- Nitschinsk, L., Tobin, S. J., Varley, D., & Vanman, E. J.
- Affiliations
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Queensland University of Technology (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Nitschinsk, Lewis
- Venue
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2023-11-24
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1099-1120
- ISSN
- 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7433
- PMC
- PMC12130607
- OpenAlex
- W4388977635
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 9.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Privacy, Security, and Data Protection
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- online anonymity, self-concept clarity, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, self-consciousness, self-expression, online behavior, personality traits
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Machiavellianism, Male, Motivation, Self Concept, Internet, Young Adult
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