The Power of Agency: Examining Factors Explaining Cybercrime Victim's Willingness to Participate in Victim-Offender Mediation

Research into the factors influencing cybercrime victims’ willingness to participate in Victim-Offender Mediation (VOM) is lacking. Based on literature findings, perceived seriousness mediated by moral wrongfulness, self-efficacy mediated through the need for agency, and self-blame were hypothesized to influence VOM participation. It was expected that individuals high in perceived seriousness and moral wrongfulness would be more likely to participate in VOM, while those low in self-efficacy and high in need for agency would be less inclined. Participants high in self-blame were expected to be more inclined to participate in VOM. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two scenarios representing a cybercrime involving either low or high financial loss experienced by the victim to achieve variability in the scores of perceived seriousness. Participants imagined themselves as victims of cyber fraud on an online marketplace and answered questions regarding the independent variables assessed in this study. They then indicated their likelihood of participating in VOM and their preferred form of participation. Contrary to expectations, perceived seriousness, moral wrongfulness, self-efficacy, and self-blame were not related to VOM participation willingness. Only the need for agency positively influenced victims’ willingness to participate in VOM. Participants expressed willingness to engage in alternative forms of VOM, such as CBC video calls and CBC e-mail messages. This study provides insights into the mechanisms by which the need for agency influences VOM participation, aiding organizations in encouraging more victims to participate in VOM after a cybercrime. Moreover, starting points for further research into factors influencing victim’s VOM participation are set. This participation might benefit victims, offenders, and society, thereby making VOM highly valuable.