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The act of trolling, which involves provoking others online, is influenced by the inherent personality traits of trolls, alongside genetic predispositions and environmental factors.
A Brigham Young University (BYU) study has identified specific personality traits that fuel this harmful online conduct. These traits form a 'dark triad,' encompassing narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. When paired with schadenfreude—the enjoyment of others' suffering—these characteristics encourage trolling. Additional contributors include brain injuries, neurobiological mechanisms, emotional states, discussion contexts, and various genetic and environmental influences that drive trolls to post offensive and inflammatory content online.
Cyberbullying, a severe form of online trolling, resulted in the tragic suicide of Megan Meier from Missouri. In nations like the United Kingdom, such behavior has, controversially or not, led to imprisonment.
While trolling may not always lead to visibly severe, destructive, or long-term consequences for its targets, it reveals personality traits, genetic factors, and external influences that may suggest deeper psychological issues in trolls than initially apparent.
10. Narcissism
The DSM-V, the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, describes narcissistic personality disorder as a chronic condition marked by inflated self-importance, a constant craving for admiration, and a profound lack of empathy.
Narcissists employ a range of manipulative tactics to achieve their goals, including verbal abuse, emotional manipulation, gaslighting, sabotage, exploitation, lying, withholding rewards, neglect, privacy invasion, character assassination, and more. They may also use tactics like the silent treatment, projecting blame, playing the victim, and 'Hoovering' to draw others back into toxic relationships.
The impact of narcissistic behavior on victims can be deeply harmful, often leaving them questioning their own reality. Victims may exhibit symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder, such as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, feelings of isolation, and hypervigilance. Long-term effects can include significant cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges.
9. Machiavellianism
In psychological terms, Machiavellianism refers to a personality trait where individuals are so self-centered that they manipulate, deceive, and exploit others to fulfill their own ambitions.
Those exhibiting Machiavellian tendencies often disregard ethical or moral standards, resorting to any means necessary to achieve their goals. This includes telling others what they want to hear, using flattery, or even committing crimes if they believe they can avoid detection. Unlike narcissists, they don’t seek the spotlight but prefer to operate behind the scenes as manipulative 'puppeteers.' They thrive on competition rather than cooperation and are skilled at using relationships, including romantic ones, to further their agendas.
Rather than trying to recover from interactions with Machiavellian individuals, it’s more effective to cope by practicing self-care, acknowledging personal limitations, showing self-compassion, leaning on trusted allies, adopting a mastery mindset to focus on personal goals, observing the Machiavellian person’s actions without attempting to outmaneuver them, and staying true to oneself.
8. Psychopathy
Psychopathy is closely linked to antisocial personality disorder, characterized by a consistent disregard for others' rights, often expressed through hostility or aggression. Deception and manipulation are also key aspects of this disorder.
Psychopaths are known to 'weaponize charm,' using flattery and praise to win trust. They often excel in leadership roles, lie effortlessly, and are skilled actors who exploit kindness, cheat, and gaslight others. As narcissists, they may shower victims with affection, mirroring their morals and values to gain trust. In romantic relationships, their behavior oscillates between cruelty and apparent kindness, often stemming from past trauma. Many psychopaths feel a deep sense of inner emptiness.
To protect themselves from psychopaths, individuals should remain vigilant for early warning signs in relationships and trust their gut instincts.
7. Schadenfreude
Schadenfreude refers to the enjoyment derived from others' misfortune. This universal tendency can manifest in reactions to minor incidents, such as laughing at someone spilling coffee or tripping.
Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, along with their associated traits, become even more harmful when combined. Trolls, driven by inflated self-importance, a craving for admiration, lack of empathy, manipulative behavior, and a delight in others' suffering, often post provocative and offensive messages online.
6. Negative Social Potency
Meshi suggests that his team’s research could assist psychologists in addressing both trolls and their victims. The study found that frequent trolling increases the enjoyment of negative social potency, leading to a greater addiction to such behavior.
5. Environment and Genetics
Narcissism, a potential driver of trolling, has been linked to both genetics and environmental factors, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Research involving identical twins raised apart and studies of the human genome have explored the role of genetics in shaping personality. These studies reveal that identical twins, despite being raised in different environments, share more personality traits than fraternal twins, highlighting the significant influence of genetics on personality development.
Recent studies have linked specific gene variations to personality disorders, suggesting that the gene tryptophan hydroxylase-2 may play a role in conditions like narcissistic personality disorder. Narcissism appears to be an inherited trait, though environmental factors also contribute to its development.
4. Brain Damage
Narcissists often lack empathy, which may stem from brain damage during childhood. The insular cortex, located within the brain’s gray matter, is responsible for compassion and empathy. It consists of two parts: the larger anterior insula and the smaller posterior insula. While the cerebral cortex influences conscious awareness, the insular cortex processes emotions, both personal and others'.
In narcissists, abnormalities in the cerebral and insular cortices result from childhood abuse by narcissistic parents. Damage to the hippocampus, crucial for learning and memory, and the amygdala, where emotions like fear and guilt originate, impairs emotional regulation. This leads to an inability to manage emotions like shame and guilt, while the amygdala damage creates a constant state of fear and anxiety, triggered by reminders of past abuse.
Children of narcissistic parents often remain hyper-vigilant for non-existent threats. The abuse they endure causes brain abnormalities similar to their parents', perpetuating the disorder. However, not all narcissistic parents abuse their children, and brain abnormalities alone do not cause narcissistic behavior; environmental factors also play a significant role.
3. Other Environmental Factors
Additional environmental factors that encourage trolling include the 'online disinhibition effect,' where the anonymity of a computer screen creates a false sense of security. Other contributors are anonymity, tribalism (a group mentality), perceived threats to personal beliefs, and conditioning, which rewards individuals with sadistic tendencies for their aggressive and hostile online behavior.
To counter trolling, seeking social support, avoiding engagement with trolls, and blocking them when possible can help minimize exposure to their provocative and often immature remarks.
To conclude, a fitting quote from Epictetus, the stoic philosopher born in 50 AD: 'Anyone who angers you controls you; they can only upset you if you allow their actions to disturb you.' These words remain profoundly wise. Let’s strive not to let others’ words or actions provoke us today.
2. Mood and Discussion Context
A peer-reviewed study highlights that trolling can be triggered by a combination of mood (a subjective state) and discussion context (an environmental factor). In an experiment simulating online discussions, the likelihood of trolling doubled when participants were exposed to negative moods induced by reading others' troll posts.
The study’s authors concluded that mood and discussion context together provide a better explanation for trolling behavior than an individual’s trolling history. They also noted that, under certain conditions, anyone can exhibit troll-like behavior.
1. Neurobiology
Dr. Royce Lee, a psychiatrist and personality disorder expert at the University of Chicago Medicine, found that narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is associated with elevated oxidative stress in the blood and heightened interpersonal sensitivity. His research raises the question of whether the personality disorder or the oxidative stress comes first.
Lee’s findings suggest that NPD may be a hypersensitivity disorder, indicating a potential link between oxidative stress and emotional regulation. Specifically, higher oxidative stress levels correlate with difficulties in recognizing or expressing shame.
Lee’s research underscores that NPD is more than just a mental condition characterized by arrogance, lack of empathy, a craving for attention, and an inflated self-image, as commonly misunderstood. It has a neurobiological foundation. Since narcissism drives internet trolling, Lee’s study not only illuminates the neurobiological roots of this behavior but also opens the door to potential medical treatments for narcissism. Such treatments could reduce trolling by addressing the hypersensitivity caused by oxidative stress.
