Verbal manifestations of aggression in social networks (based on the questionnaire materials of higher education applicants of teaching specialties)

Abstract

Introduction. In modern linguistics, research into various manifestations of verbal aggression has intensified, particularly in social networks. The priority of the state policy of Ukraine is to ensure the protection of life and health, including mental health, of participants in the educational environment, therefore, in the process of working with students of higher education in pedagogical specialties, the question of the nature of aggression, its forms, ways of spreading and prevention inevitably arises.

Purpose. The article analyzes the phenomenon of verbal aggression as a form of conflictogenic speech behavior in social networks; based on the material of an anonymous survey of students of pedagogical specialties, the level of awareness of students of higher education regarding verbal aggression in the virtual space was determined, and the linguistic means of implementing aggression in the form of ridicule (mockery), disrespectful comments, threats (intimidation) were characterized.

Methods. Anonymous questionnaire of students was the main method of research, since the questions of the questionnaire are aimed at determining the linguistic means of aggression in social networks.

Results. The results of the anonymous survey of students of pedagogical specialties regarding the manifestations of verbal aggression in the virtual space reveal that only 60% of respondents are informed about verbal violence in social networks, 15% of survey participants recognized themselves as the object of bullying. When answering other questions of the questionnaire, students testified to more cases of verbal aggression towards themselves, including verbal insults, mockery, intimidation, etc.

Originality. The relevance of our investigation is due to the strengthening of the processes of speech aggression in general and the insufficiency of studying the problem of verbal violence in the virtual communicative space, in particular, among the student body. Verbal aggression is the most common type of violence in modern schools and the cause of psychological tension in the educational environment.

Conclusion. The results of the anonymous survey of students of higher education in pedagogical specialties regarding verbal aggression as a form of conflict-causing speech behavior in social networks indicate the need to strengthen work with students to develop the ability to recognize manifestations of violence and adequately respond to them. In general, we note significant gaps in the knowledge of students of higher education in pedagogical specialties regarding verbal aggression - 40% of respondents do not have information about verbal violence in the virtual space. Answers to questionnaire questions are usually correct, mostly one-word, without elaborate reasoning, which we associate with students’ reluctance to analyze images, violation of privacy, etc. Questionnaire participants singled out the following hierarchy of forms of verbal aggression: disrespectful comments, ridicule (taunting), threats (intimidation), they primarily related to the appearance, behavior, and style of clothing of communicators; language means of aggression are defined as insulting statements, absent vocabulary, jokes (mostly without specification).