The Relationship Between Attachment Styles, Self-Monitoring and Cybercrime in Social Network Users

BACKGROUND The anonymity in the cyberspace environment, as well as the rapid advent of and improvements to online activities has increased cybercrime. OBJECTIVES The aim of this paper was to survey the relationship between attachment styles, self-monitoring and cybercrime in social network users. PATIENTS AND METHODS The Collins and Read Adult Attachment Scale, and the Snyder self-monitoring and cybercrime scales were sent to 500 social network users. Of these, 203 users (103 men and 100 women) filled out the questionnaires. RESULTS The results showed that women achieved higher scores in self-monitoring and the anxious attachment style, and men achieved higher scores in cybercrime and the anxious attachment style. There was a negative correlation between self-monitoring and cybercrime, and the anxious attachment style had a positive correlation with cybercrime and a negative correlation with self-monitoring. The secure attachment style had a positive correlation with self-monitoring and a negative correlation with cybercrime. The dependent attachment style had a positive correlation with self-monitoring and a negative correlation with cybercrime. All correlations were significant. CONCLUSIONS Attachment styles have significant relationships with both self-monitoring and cybercrime. Self-monitoring and attachment styles are significant predictors of cybercrimes.