The Nature of Trolling: Sadism and Machiavellianism

Although the word “troll” has only recently entered mainstream vocabulary (partly due to the rise of popular online discussion forums like 4chan and Reddit, as well as mass multiplayer online games), trolling actually began in chat rooms of the 1980s. Back then, “trolls” were known as online instigators of humiliating and essentially pointless arguments or “flamewars.” Today, however, “trolling” has become a catch-all term, equally applied to provocative comments on YouTube and tweets designed to annoy or upset others.

Trolling is on the rise. In the United Kingdom in 2014, more than 1,200 people were convicted under Section 127 of the Communications Act (2003). According to this law, any message or material sent “by means of a public electronic communications network” that is “grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing” is classified as a crime. In comparison, there were only 143 convictions under this law in 2004.

Psychologist John Suler believes that one possible explanation for the increase in trolling is the “online disinhibition effect,” which leads to a weakening of social restraints due to factors like internet anonymity and invisibility. Another important factor is that we spend more time online: in 2005, one billion people had regular internet access, and by 2015, that number had grown to 3.2 billion.

But can disinhibition alone explain trolling? What is the primary reason people want to “troll”? In 2014, a team of researchers led by Erin Buckels at the University of Manitoba published a paper titled “Trolls Just Want to Have Fun.” They hypothesized that there is a link between certain personality disorders and a tendency toward online trolling. To test this idea, Buckels’ team conducted two anonymous online surveys about internet habits, including questions and statements related to trolling. For example: “I have sent people links to shocking websites for fun.” To measure trolling-related behavior, the authors used the Global Assessment of Internet Trolling (GAIT). Participants rated statements like “I enjoy upsetting people on the internet” on a five-point scale, where 1 meant “strongly disagree” and 5 meant “strongly agree.”

The authors found strong positive correlations between trolling and Machiavellianism (a tendency toward cunning, manipulation, and deceit to achieve personal goals), as well as links to psychopathy (a lack of remorse and empathy, and a tendency to manipulate others). The tendency toward sadism—deriving pleasure from causing others physical or psychological pain—was one of the most consistent personality traits associated with trolling behavior. The authors concluded: “The associations between sadism and GAIT scores were so strong that one might say online trolls are prototypical everyday sadists.”

In another study called “The Dark Side of Facebook,” psychologist Evita March from Federation University Australia and her colleagues conducted an online survey similar to Buckels’ research. Three hundred ninety-six adults aged 18 to 77 participated, 76 percent of whom were women. The researchers found that Facebook trolls “tend to be ruthless, emotionally cruel, and dependent on the pleasure they get from others’ pain and discomfort.” This pleasure can easily become addictive. March notes:

“When you engage in this behavior, your actions are reinforced by certain biological mechanisms: neurotransmitters and dopamine. But, as with any addictive behavior, you need more and more to get the same pleasure, so we see people getting deeper and deeper into trolling.”

So, while the internet enables trolls to exist, it’s hard to argue that it creates them. As with many things, it comes down to human nature.