Information processing of social exclusion: Links with bullying, moral disengagement and guilt

The Social Information Processing (SIP) theory and the Cognitive Theory of Moral Agency were integrated to investigate associations between SIP bullying, guilt, moral disengagement. Participants 341 children early adolescents (Mage = 11.14). Two social exclusion vignettes administered assess three steps (step 2: Attribution hostile intent; step 3: Selection antisocial goals, 4: Generation aggressive responses). Guilt was assessed through five vignettes. A self-report measure used disengagement peer nominations bullying perpetration. Moderated mediation analyses performed test hypotheses. Findings indicated that attribution intent associated with selection which in turn, generation responses among participants high levels low guilt Results are discussed terms their theoretical practical relevance.