Abstract Online sexist aggression is still overlooked in psychosocial literature. The present study aims to investigate moral cognitive and emotional processes associated with different online stances during a heated online discussion prompted by a sexist meme. To this end, adopting a social cognitive framework, we analyzed Twitter comments in response to the public condemnation of a rude sexist meme made about Carola Rackete, the captain of the Sea-Watch. A total of 1,249 comments were codified for moral disengagement mechanisms, prosocial reasoning, and moral emotions. The results show the impact of a sexist meme in terms of cognitive and emotional processes. While moral disengagement mechanisms and other-condemning emotions have characterized aggressive stances, prosocial reasoning and other-suffering emotions have characterized prosocial ones. Intermediate stances also emerged during the online discussion, showing a more complex interplay between cognition and emotional moral processes—beyond the mere polarization of two stances. Indeed, some comments defending women image were characterized in active negative emotions (e.g., anger) and prosocial moral reasoning, whereas others “avoiding” comments were characterized by moral disengagement and ironic expressions. The social and theoretical implications of these results are then discussed.

中文翻译：

---

在线性别歧视模因及其对社交媒体中道德和情感过程的影响

摘要 在社会心理文献中，网络性别歧视仍然被忽视。本研究旨在调查由性别歧视模因引发的激烈在线讨论中与不同在线立场相关的道德认知和情感过程。为此，我们采用社会认知框架分析了 Twitter 评论，以回应公众对有关海洋观察船长 Carola Rackete 的粗鲁性别歧视模因的谴责。总共有 1,249 条评论被编入道德脱离机制、亲社会推理和道德情感。结果显示了性别歧视模因在认知和情感过程方面的影响。虽然道德脱离机制和其他谴责情绪具有攻击性立场的特征，但亲社会推理和其他受苦情绪具有亲社会性的特征。在线讨论中也出现了中间立场，显示了认知和情感道德过程之间更复杂的相互作用——不仅仅是两种立场的两极分化。事实上，一些捍卫女性形象的评论以积极的负面情绪（例如，愤怒）和亲社会的道德推理为特征，而另一些“回避”评论则以道德脱离和讽刺表达为特征。然后讨论了这些结果的社会和理论意义。而其他“回避”评论的特点是道德脱离和讽刺表达。然后讨论了这些结果的社会和理论意义。而其他“回避”评论的特点是道德脱离和讽刺表达。然后讨论了这些结果的社会和理论意义。