Researchers often use attribution theory to understand how people make sense of messages. Unlike the ephemeral actions typically investigated using attribution frameworks, messages can persist. Our study observed how persistence influences the harmfulness of messages and how people levy blame upon harmful posters and those ostensibly obligated and capable of intervening. Grounded in the path model of blame, a randomized experiment (N = 520) tested whether persistence cues in an online environment (low vs high message persistence) influenced appraisals of the harmfulness of online toxicity (i.e., sexism on Reddit), inferences of mental states for relevant agents (e.g., awareness, capacity), attributions of blame, and motives to respond. Results indicated that greater persistence increased perceived harmfulness and motivated individuals to place greater blame upon inactive/ineffective moderators who were capable of intervening.

中文翻译：

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有毒在线信息的持续存在会影响人们对伤害的看法和指责


研究人员经常使用归因理论来了解人们如何理解信息。与通常使用归因框架调查的短暂行为不同，消息可以持续存在。我们的研究观察了持久性如何影响信息的危害性，以及人们如何将责任归咎于有害的海报和那些表面上有义务和有能力进行干预的人。基于指责路径模型，一项随机实验（N = 520）测试了在线环境中的持久性线索（低消息持久性与高消息持久性）是否影响对在线毒性危害性的评估（即 Reddit 上的性别歧视）、心理推断说明相关主体（例如意识、能力）、责任归属和回应动机。结果表明，更持久的坚持会增加感知到的危害性，并促使个人将更大的责任归咎于有能力进行干预的不活跃/无效的调节者。