Psychological dynamics of fake account use: The relationship between cyber dissociation, psychological trauma, obsessive behaviors, and violence tendency

Social media platforms are growing daily, spreading their influence to a wider audience. They are particularly popular among young people. These growing platforms are also driving the use of fake accounts. In this context, the study aimed to evaluate the relationship between obsessive behaviors, childhood psychological trauma, dissociative experiences, and violent tendencies as psychological dynamics behind fake account use. The study sample consisted of 102 university students aged 18-30. The participants were provided with a Demographic Information Form, the Childhood Psychological Trauma Scale, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Violence Tendency Scale, and the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Inventory. The questionnaires were completed online via Google Forms. The sample consisted of 102 individuals (51 individuals using fake accounts and 51 individuals not using fake accounts). According to the analysis results, the childhood psychological trauma scores of individuals using fake accounts were higher than those not using fake accounts (p<0.05). Additionally, the total childhood psychological trauma score and scores for emotional abuse, physical abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect were found to be higher in those using fake accounts than in those not using fake accounts (p<0.05). A significant and positive correlation was found between childhood psychological trauma, dissociative experiences, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and violence tendency scores in individuals using fake accounts (p<0.05). Furthermore, comparisons were made regarding fake account use using a short questionnaire designed for social media use and cyber dissociation in the context of cyber dissociation, and significant findings were obtained. As a result, in the study, it is emphasized that the existence of a relationship between dissociative experiences, tendency to violence, childhood traumas and obsessive behaviors in the context of fake account use requires awareness of fake account use and that the psychopathologies it may cause make it important to take precautions in terms of forensic sciences. Keywords: Fake identity, social media, cyber dissociation, childhood psychological traumas, violence tendency, obsessive behaviors