Online trolling spans multiple platforms and contributes to many Internet users feeling demoralised and depressed. This post summarises some key findings and psychological insights featured in an article (Buckells et al, 2019).
The authors carried out several tests and found some interesting findings.
Online trolling tended to feature individuals who can be classified as everyday sadists - That is individuals whose pleasure derives from inflicting pain or playing violent video games to having an overall appetite for cruelty. The authors note that this sadism necessarily requires a deficit of empathy.
Both trolls and sadists experienced pleasure when observing visual representations of people in emotional or physical pain.
Citing other work (Trémolière and Djeriouat (2016)) the authors note that sadists make moral decisions based on pleasure rather the non-sadists who are guided by negative emotional states such as disgust or anger. A sadist who finds behavioural transgressions as funny is expected to find them excusable.
Trolls and sadists minimise the harm caused by trolling and sadistic behaviours.
Concluding remarks: The authors did note that not all trolls are sadists. And suggest the need for further work.
References: Buckels, EE, Trapnell, PD, Andjelovic, T, Paulhus, DL. Internet trolling and everyday sadism: Parallel effects on pain perception and moral judgment. Journal of Personality. 2019; 87: 328– 340. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12393
image credits: Sharuka862/pixabay
This is a very interesting topic to research. Thanks for providing us with these facts and resources!
I've never thought about trolls as sadists, but it makes sense. Only people who lack empathy and derive pleasure from other's pain can do such a thing.
But I wonder what makes the non-sadist trolls do such things. Do they not understand the seriousness of the matter? Are they copying the rest of the sadist "audience"? It would be interesting to find out more about what drives this behavior in them. I'm curious about your opinions on this.
Really astute questions:
I went for a coffee with my wife and mum today, and they noticed the same problem. If many individuals who troll are sadists, what about those who aren't sadists?
I had no answer other than that a high percentage of trolls are of a younger age and male. So this might be a question of both impulsivity and immaturity.
Certainly, as the authors point out there is a freedom from social repercussions which allows trolls to post negative comments, maybe because they are having a bad day or feel envy.
I don't have an exact answer but maybe these play a part. Great questions sorry I don't have the answers to them yet, but my interest was so piqued by this possible link that I plan to investigate more. I will let you know if I find anything. 😁