期刊名称：Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture
电子版ISSN：1070-8286
出版年度：2007
卷号：14
期号：4
出版社：State University of New York at Albany
摘要：Debates regarding whether the term, community, can be applied in cyberspace have been persisting for a while. The author, Matthew Williams, takes the stance arguing despite the lack of physicality, communities can be formed and maintained in cyberspace. Virtually Criminalis centered on a qualitative study conducted in an online community¡ªCyberworlds. Cyberworlds is an online forum utilizing advanced technology to allow members to present their online persona in a graphic form (i.e. avatar) and to provide interactions other than simply textual communications. Williams uses this virtually realistic setting to examine online deviance and regulations that aim to punish the perpetrators. His theoretical framework incorporates Hirschi's social bonding theory, self-controltheory and Sykes and Matza's techniques of neutralization. The essential theme states online deviance stems from weak social bonds to the online community
