Final answer:
Paul's explicit and offensive online behavior in anonymous chat-rooms can be explained by deindividuation due to anonymity, which diminishes accountability and social apprehension.
Step-by-step explanation:
Paul's behavior of being mild-mannered and kind in person but explicit and offensive in anonymous chat-rooms may be attributed to anonymity, which leads to a sense of deindividuation. This psychological concept explains the group situation in which a person may feel a reduced sense of accountability and a diminished sense of self, leading to behaviors that they might not exhibit in identifiable contexts. In anonymous settings like chat-rooms, individuals often experience lower evaluation apprehension, meaning they worry less about how others will perceive them, contributing to more uninhibited behavior. Moreover, anonymity can foster an environment where social norms are relaxed, and individuals feel more able to express themselves without the fear of shame or social rejection, as they are not directly identifiable.
This phenomenon can be exacerbated by the nature of online interactions, where face-to-face cues are absent, and there is a sense of detachment from traditional social repercussions. Research has shown that when people expect no consequences for their actions due to anonymity, they are more likely to engage in behaviors that reflect poorly on moral and ethical standards, such as cyberbullying or explicit language.