The internet is heated: on the causes of emotional arousal in contemporary online communication

Abstract

Emotional arousal in online communication refers to the radicalisation of both the form and content of messages, as well as to the impulsiveness of actions taken in the process of online communication. Its manifestations include, for example, abusive messages, hate speech, aggression, and insulting others; the thoughtless publication of statements; and campaigns aimed at harming other people. Emotions, primarily negative ones, lie at the root of these manifestations of arousal. The problem of emotional arousal began to attract attention when the Internet started to gain popularity. Its causes were sought within psychology, particularly in the conditions of computer-mediated communica­tion. In the 21st century, attention has also been drawn to the role of commercial intermediaries in online communication, for whom emotional arousal is beneficial, as it captures users’ attention, stimulates discussion, and increases profits. Moreover, the Internet functions within a social reality (late modernity, risk society) that amplifies emotions such as fear and anger, which in turn contribute to emotional arousal in online communication. The resasons for emotional arousal mentioned in the article—an uncertain social reality, the psychological conditions of this communication, and the policies of the largest digital corporations—can explain the current state of affairs only when they occur together.