Have you been on the receiving end of a troll attack or a flame war? You can take comfort in the thought that you’re not alone – and that trolls are, officially, sadists.
My friend Jack Eason alerted me to a link between trolls and sadism, discovered by Personality and Individual Differences. The journal published a study that confirms what we all suspected: internet trolls are really messed up.
Specifically, Canadian researchers conducted two internet studies with over 1,200 people. They gave personality tests to each subject, along with a survey about their internet commenting behavior. They were looking for evidence that linked trolling with the Dark Tetrad of personality: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadistic personality.
These are technical terms; google them for the formal definitions: it’s worth your time, for the aha! Moment of recognizing an ex-boss, boyfriend or girlfriend.
Anyway, the researchers found that Dark Tetrad scores were highest among people who said trolling was their favorite internet activity (which begs the question – how much of a sociopath does one have to be to describe trolling as their favorite activity??). To get an idea of how much more prevalent these traits were among internet trolls, check out this figure from the paper:
Coincidentally, trolls score incredibly high in the Dark Tetrad of personality traits
Indeed, the relationship between this Dark Tetrad and trolling is so significant, that the authors write the following in their paper:
… the associations between sadism and GAIT (Global Assessment of Internet Trolling) scores were so strong that it might be said that online trolls are prototypical everyday sadists.
In other words, trolls truly enjoy making you feel bad. Or, as the authors explain,
Both trolls and sadists feel sadistic glee at the distress of others. Sadists just want to have fun … and the Internet is their playground!
So next time you encounter a troll online, remember that (1) These trolls are some truly messed up people and (2) it is your suffering that brings them pleasure, so the best thing you can do is ignore them.
Don’t forget that, for a few more days, The Power of Six will be on sale. Read seven short sci-fi stories for only 99c!
Reblogged this on bhalsop and commented:
Nicholas wrote this last fall, but it’s still good science! And it explains so much.
Except that sadism is not the same thing as psychopathy.
Welcome, and thanks for raising an interesting point. As you remember, according to the article, trolls are susceptible to sadism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. The connection between sadism and psychopathy was part of the research.
In 2002, Dr. Paulhus and colleagues proposed a cluster of traits they called the Dark Triad: narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. He has now been investigating if everyday sadism should be added to the cluster — a Dark Tetrad.
“Psychopaths want to get things from people and don’t care about hurting them to do so,” he said. “Sadists look for opportunities to hurt people, and prolong it for their own pleasure.”
Studies also indicate that sadists will choose to hurt people without provocation, even if the act takes time and effort — the only reward being the pleasure of inflicting cruelty.
So, my personal feeling is that yes, sadists are psychopaths. However, I confess to not being a psychiatrist, therefore I’d rather leave the definitions to the professionals. 🙂
You know? There are psychopaths who are sadists.
Ahhh, so true… especially as I have been the 2 x recipient of the vicarious sadism by, yes, a “professional encourager.” Which bit was professional and which bit was encouraging, or do you have to pay first to get to that? Mind boggling.
I was once kicked out of a class that taught people Rogers’ Unconditional Positive Regard, among other things… Those professional encouragers can be quite mean!
I suppose it takes all kinds of people, ‘the good, the bad and ugly’. These individuals are obviously miserable and like to spread their unhappiness and troubles onto others. I haven’t responded to these trolls but their diatribe is hurtful.
Great post Nicholas 😀
Thanks! I guess that showing a sadist that you hurt, only fuels his sadism. 🙁
I want to get back at them and make them pay.
Stupidity also appears to be a personality trait of many trolls. Take, for example the trolls who make threats using Twitter and other social media. Apart from this constituting criminal behaviour and being wholly immoral, it is downright stupid as the IP addresses of the perpetrators can (and have) been traced leading to the prosecution of trolls. So not only are many trolls sychopaths, they are, in addition lacking in basic common sense.
I don’t know. In a perverse way, you have to be pretty intelligent to manipulate people like that. But also very stupid. It probably boils down to the various kinds of intelligence.
Thanks for the comment and welcome! 🙂
Makes perfect sense. These people are obviously sick and thrive on making others miserable.
They do have some very peculiar ways to get their kicks, according to this research…
And that’s why they don’t deserve to live, D.G.
Erm…. Okay, that escalated rather fast!
Thank you for sharing this information! 🙂
You’re welcome. I hope you never find it useful, only informative. 🙂
Thanks for the comment and welcome! 🙂
I actually learned my lesson the hard way. So, I’m very glad that you addressed this issue! 🙂
Since I have recently been a target of such a creature, your post makes it a little easier to continue ignoring them. Thank you!!
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear that! I hope that, knowing you’re hardly alone, helps a little. 🙁
Thanks for the comment and welcome! 🙂
Sometimes ignoring doesn’t work ’cause there are those who stop at nothing to antagonize others. That’s why you gotta beat ’em at their own game.
Personally, I’m a big fan of the “walk away” method of dealing with trolls. Better for the soul. Plus, no risk of becoming one.
To be honest, it’s unsurprising news but it’s good to know, anyway.
Yea, I can imagine your jaw dropping – not. 😀
I love your musings on Internet behaviour, Nicholas… it always makes me feel like someone’s sitting in that dark corner with me, looking in vain for the light switch!
Thanks! 🙂
You know, I have a recurring dream like that. In fact, whenever I dream that I flick that light switch and nothing happens, I know that I’m dreaming, which turns the dream to a lucid one. Funny you should mention that… GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!! 😀
Doesn’t give a clue how to get rid of the vermin, but it’s helpful to know.
Oh my, am I to assume you’ve been flamed by one? I always hope the post is informative rather than useful, as the latter implies first-hand experience. 🙁
Shall we just say I made the mistake of asking a question on a forum…
Ouch. I assume it was not a well-run one, or the moderator would have jumped in with the fire extinguisher… Thanks for sharing!
Suspicions confirmed. Thanks for this Nicholas. Well done (as usual)
Thanks! 🙂
Remember too that it’s the trolls who have the problems, not those being trolled. So, if we ignore them and don’t give them the pleasure of knowing they’ve made us feel bad, will they eventually just go away?
I hope so. After all, where’s the fun in flaming someone who ignores you?
Thanks for sharing this very interesting post. I will pass it on.
Interesting, but hardly unexpected! 😀
Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
Nicholas on Trolls.
What a great post and the easiest way to combat a troll is to be happy! 🙂 When you’re upset, they win.
What a lovely way to put it! Thanks 🙂
Aha!
that’s good to know :o) wonder what trolls did before the internet….
Probably wrote poison letters. I can imagine them using any means necessary to annoy others. Carrier pigeons, smoke signals, jungle drums… I can almost imagine the jungles in Africa echoing with the sound of irate trolls:
Troll: “Tum tum tum” (“you’re book is awful”)
Author: “Tum- ta-ta-tum” (“you’re an idiot, and your spelling sucks”)
hahaha yes, that’s probably what they did… or they worked at the hotline of insurances :o(
makes total sense
Sadly, it does. It really highlights that we shouldn’t take troll attacks personally, though.
Don’t be so sure ‘cuz there are trolls who go too far in antagonism. Therefore, they must be punished severely.
Doesn’t surprise me in the least. The virtual world gives them a broader base of targets and the power of anonymity.
You’re right. Our mistake is in taking it personally. A mistake I, too, am guilty of, of course. 🙂
By not taking their attacks personally, you give them the freedom to walk all over you. Therefore, they must be gotten back at big time.
Or you can just walk away, as I always say. It’s easier online than in “real” life, of course… But wasting your life trying to get back at someone seems like time poorly spent to me.
Reblogged this on mira prabhu and commented:
It’s Official: Trolls are Sociopaths…thanks to Nicholas Rossis and to The Story Reading Ape for this far-from-hard-to-believe information…
That was really interesting. Plus, I can confirm trolling is not my favourite pastime, which is now reassuring 🙂
Yea! A fellow non-sociopath! 😀
Thank God, at least there’s two of us 🙂
Glad that I’m not the only one who hates sociopaths. In fact, that bad guys never existed.
Very interesting and noted for the future!
I hope you never need it, but knowing it’s not you, it’s them, surely helps. 🙂
Not altogether surprising but just the idea of giving pleasure to such a creature, gives me the hibbie jibbies. No reaction from me, when it happens… Thanks for the informative post!
Hopefully it’ll never happen to you, but at least now you won’t take it personally. 🙂
informative, valuable post!
Thanks! I was astounded when I read it, so I just had to share 🙂