Say “cancel culture” in a room and you’ll probably get a dozen reactions at once. For some, it’s the internet finally holding people accountable. For others, it’s more like an angry mob with no interest in hearing the other side. Either way, the psychology behind it is messy and interesting. It’s not just a Twitter trend or some new TikTok drama. It’s tied to how humans have worked for thousands of years. Sticking together, setting rules, punishing those who cross the line, and fearing one thing above all: being kicked out of the group.
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Why Groups Get Fired Up
Humans aren’t built to live alone. Back when survival meant hunting, sharing food, and keeping watch, you needed your tribe. Over time, we built these invisible “moral codes”. These were the unspoken rules about what’s okay and what’s not. They kept the peace. These days, instead of whispers around a campfire, we’ve got posts, comments, and hashtags. The speed is different, but the instinct’s the same. If someone breaks a rule, even a stranger, the urge to call them out can feel like doing your bit for the group. And once people see others speaking up, that energy spreads fast.
The Identity Factor
Psychologists call it social identity- basically, part of how you see yourself comes from the groups you belong to. Politics, fandoms, causes… they shape your sense of “us” versus “them.” In cancel culture, defending the group’s values can turn into a public performance. Calling out someone who’s “in the wrong” isn’t just about them. Rather, it’s about signalling to everyone else where you stand. That unity can feel good, but it can also push people toward more extreme reactions, just to prove they belong.
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Old Roots of Public Shaming
Public shaming may feel like a social media thing, but it’s pretty ancient. In small communities, the person who broke the rules might be laughed at, avoided, or punished where everyone could see. It kept others from stepping out of line. Now? Same concept, just on a massive scale. A bad post or an offensive clip can go from zero to viral before the person even knows they’re in trouble. And because losing your standing in a community still feels like a real threat to the brain, the pressure to fall back in line is huge, and sometimes crushing.
The Sting of Rejection
Rejection’s not just unpleasant; it actually registers in the brain a lot like physical pain. That’s why cancel culture hits so hard. If you’re the target, you might lose friends, work, or your reputation overnight. Even people who aren’t directly involved feel the tension. They watch someone get dropped instantly and start editing their thoughts before speaking, just in case they’re next.
How Social Media Turns Up the Volume
The internet doesn’t just pass the message along- it amplifies it to max volume. Posts that spark strong feelings move the fastest, and anger beats calm debate almost every time. A cropped screenshot, a short clip, or a quote pulled out of context can explode before anyone has time to fact-check. The outrage starts snowballing. When people see others joining in, it feels easier and safer to pile on.
When Groups Go to Extremes
Talk to people who agree with you for long enough, and your views often get stronger. Psychologists call this group polarisation. About cancel culture, that means that a small critique quickly becomes a demand to erase someone from public life. An agreement feels like proof of being right. Having greater numbers on your side encourages one to push further. But a downside to this is that you lose the middle ground where real conversation and growth can happen.
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Real Conviction or Just Showing Off?
Some folks really do believe in the cause they’re speaking up for. While others might just be showing a bit of loyalty to the group. Social media loves a public display, and outrage gets rewarded. Sometimes, joining in is about the issue. Other times, it’s about showing you’re on the supposedly “right” side.
The Mental Health Fallout
For the person in the firing line, the mental toll can be serious – anxiety, depression, even trauma. If their career or identity is tied to their public image, the loss can feel permanent. A few people manage to bounce back after the storm, but plenty step away completely, deciding they’d rather not take the risk again.
Why Some Stay Quiet
In psychology, there’s the “bystander effect”: the more people around, the less likely any one person is to act. Cancel culture flips that. Sometimes, seeing everyone pile on makes people join in. Other times, it keeps them silent. If you think the outrage’s gone too far, saying so can make you a target yourself. So, people stay quiet. It’s not always about approval. Sometimes it’s about self-preservation.
The Fine Line Between Accountability and Revenge
Here’s the tricky bit: holding people responsible is important. But the original goals get lost when it turns into punishment for its own sake. Once a group feels totally certain about being right, it might start ignoring any new facts that seem to complicate the story. Without balance, it stops being about change and starts being about revenge.
Why It Feels Good to Call Someone Out
It’s not just about the aspect of moral satisfaction. There’s a bit of brain chemistry involved here. Standing up for something you believe in can give you a dopamine hit. Add in likes, shares, and public agreement, and you’ve got a nice little feedback loop: outrage, action, reward, repeat. That buzz can make it easier to overlook the harm piling on might cause.
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What Could Work Better
If cancel culture isn’t disappearing, maybe the goal should be making it less destructive. Psychologists often point to restorative justice. Restorative justice entails dealing with harm through conversation and repair instead of resorting to punishment alone. It’s a gradual process and might even be awkward. But it gives space for understanding and, most importantly, for change. In an online context, that could mean sending a private message first, or at least giving someone a chance to explain before calling them out publicly with no basis.
Conclusion
Cancel culture has two sides. It shows how badly we want to protect shared values, but also how quickly we can shut someone out. That fear shapes not just the people caught in the storm, but everyone watching from the edges. Understanding why it happens won’t excuse bad behaviour, but it can help us find ways to hold people accountable without throwing empathy out the window.
FAQs
1. Is cancel culture always harmful?
Not necessarily. It can bring attention to important issues and hold powerful people accountable. The harm comes when it leaves no room for dialogue or personal growth.
2. Why do people join in on cancelling someone they don’t know?
Shared moral values, social identity, and the influence of seeing others participate can motivate people to join in, even without personal involvement.
3. Does cancel culture change behaviour?
It can, but often through fear rather than understanding. Long-term change usually requires conversation, education, and reflection.
4. How does fear of being cancelled affect everyday people?
It can lead to self-censorship, where people avoid expressing opinions or exploring topics that might trigger backlash.
5. What’s a healthier alternative to cancelling?
Restorative justice approaches, which focus on dialogue and repair rather than total exclusion, can be more constructive and less damaging.
References +
Atske, S., & Atske, S. (2025, April 24). Americans and ‘Cancel culture’: where some see calls for accountability, others see censorship, punishment. Pew Research Centre. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/05/19/americans-and-cancel-culture where-some-see-calls-for-accountability-others-see-censorship-punishment/
Cummings, K. H., Zafari, B., & Beitelspacher, L. (2023). #Cancelled! Exploring the phenomenon of cancel culture. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375520893_Cancelled_Exploring_the_ Phenomenon_of_Cancel_Culture
Holding People Accountable is Ineffective Leadership | Conscious Leadership Group Blog. (n.d.). https://conscious.is/blogs/holding-people-accountable-is-ineffective-leadership
Is cancel culture effective? How public shaming has changed. (2025, July 16). Pegasus Magazine. https://www.ucf.edu/pegasus/is-cancel-culture-effective/
The Editors of ProCon. (2025, July 15). Cancel culture | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Social Media, Internet, & Cancel. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/procon/cancel-culture-debate
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