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Nitschinsk L, Tobin SJ, Vanman EJ. A functionalist approach to online trolling. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1211023. [PMID: 37885740 PMCID: PMC10598604 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1211023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Online trolling is often linked to sadism and psychopathy. Yet, little research has assessed why people high in these traits seek online environments to achieve their nefarious goals. We employ a functionalist approach to examine whether people high in sadism and psychopathy are motivated to seek the affordances of online environments (e.g., anonymity) to reveal their malevolent self-aspects by engaging in trolling behavior. A sample of 515 university undergraduates (Mage = 20.47) read vignettes depicting trolling incidents and rated the acceptability of the perpetrators' actions and whether they had ever written similar comments. Participants then completed measures of psychopathy, sadism, and toxic anonymous motivations. We find that toxic anonymous motivations partially mediate the relationship between psychopathy and sadism, and online trolling. Whereas trolling is often understood through its underlying personality traits, toxic motivations to seek anonymity may be a more proximal predictor of who is likely to troll online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis Nitschinsk
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephanie J. Tobin
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Eric J. Vanman
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Cook CL, Tang SYC, Lin JHT. Comparing shades of darkness: trolling victims' experiences on social media vs. online gaming. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1163244. [PMID: 37674743 PMCID: PMC10478268 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1163244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although there is ample literature available on toxicity in games, as there is regarding trolling on social media, there are few to no cross-platform studies on toxicity and trolling. In other words, the extant literature focuses on one platform at a time instead of comparing and contrasting them. The present work aims to rectify this gap by analyzing interviews from a larger study of 22 self-proclaimed victims of in-game trolling to not only determine whether social media or gaming communities are considered more toxic but also to explore how definitions of the word 'trolling' change depending on the platform in question. We found that while definitions of in-game trolling behavior focused on behavioral styles of trolling (e.g., throwing one's avatar into enemy fire to disadvantage one's team, and blocking other players' avatars' movement), social media trolling is defined by more sinister actions such as misinformation spreading and 'canceling' other users. We also found that gaming is perceived as generally more toxic than social media, often due to company policies or lack thereof. Practical and theoretical implications for the study of toxicity in all online communities - gaming or social-media based - are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine L. Cook
- International College of Innovation, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Simon Y.-C. Tang
- College of Communication, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jih-Hsuan Tammy Lin
- College of Communication, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Advertising, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taiwan Institute for Governance and Communication Research, Taipei, Taiwan
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Meriläinen M, Ruotsalainen M. The light, the dark, and everything else: making sense of young people's digital gaming. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1164992. [PMID: 37388650 PMCID: PMC10306168 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1164992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether gaming has a beneficial or detrimental effect on young people's lives is a defining feature in both the research and the public discussion of youth digital gaming. In this qualitative study, we draw from a thematic analysis of the experiences of 180 game players in Finland, aged 15-25 years. Utilizing the digital gaming relationship (DGR) theory, we explore how different aspects of gaming actualize in their lives, and how different features of gaming culture participation come together to form their experience. We contend that framing gaming as a balancing act between beneficial and detrimental obscures much of the complexity of young people's gaming, reinforces a partially false dichotomy, and overlooks young people's agency. Based on our results, we suggest alternative approaches that help reduce and avoid these problems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Ruotsalainen
- Department of Music, Art and Culture Studies, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Santos ILS, Nascimento Lima DC, Almeida Dias EV, Galdino Pessoa TE, Tomaz Paiva T, Pimentel CE. Low Self-Esteem, High FOMO? The Other Side of the Internet Troll. Psychol Rep 2023:332941231183136. [PMID: 37300814 DOI: 10.1177/00332941231183136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The present study aimed to observe the impact of self-esteem and FOMO on online trolling, investigating the mediating role of antisocial online content exposure. A total of 300 social media users (27.68 years, SD = 7.15, SE = .41) participated in the study. Data analysis showed statistically significant model-fit indices (CFI = .99, GFI = .98, TLI = .98, RMSEA = .02 | 90% CI .01-.03|, SRMR = .04) to the mediation model: both self-esteem (direct effects: λ = -0.17, p < .01, indirect effects: λ = -.06, p < .05) and FOMO (direct effects: λ = .19, p < .01, indirect effects: λ = .07, p < .01) were related to online trolling, both directly and indirectly, trough antisocial online content exposure. It is possible to conclude that the objective was achieved, highlighting the importance of both personal factors and contextual characteristics of the internet in the perpetuation of online aggression.
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Volkmer SA, Gaube S, Raue M, Lermer E. Troll story: The dark tetrad and online trolling revisited with a glance at humor. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280271. [PMID: 36897846 PMCID: PMC10004561 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Internet trolling is considered a negative form of online interaction that can have detrimental effects on people's well-being. This pre-registered, experimental study had three aims: first, to replicate the association between internet users' online trolling behavior and the Dark Tetrad of personality (Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism) established in prior research; second, to investigate the effect of experiencing social exclusion on people's motivation to engage in trolling behavior; and third, to explore the link between humor styles and trolling behavior. In this online study, participants were initially assessed on their personality, humor styles, and global trolling behavior. Next, respondents were randomly assigned to a social inclusion or exclusion condition. Thereafter, we measured participants' immediate trolling motivation. Results drawn from 1,026 German-speaking participants indicate a clear correlation between global trolling and all facets of the Dark Tetrad as well as with aggressive and self-defeating humor styles. However, no significant relationship between experiencing exclusion/inclusion and trolling motivation emerged. Our quantile regression findings suggest that psychopathy and sadism scores have a significant positive effect on immediate trolling motivation after the experimental manipulation, whereas Machiavellianism and narcissism did not explain variation in trolling motivation. Moreover, being socially excluded had generally no effect on immediate trolling motivation, apart from participants with higher immediate trolling motivation, for whom the experience of social exclusion actually reduced trolling motivation. We show that not all facets of the Dark Tetrad are of equal importance for predicting immediate trolling motivation and that research should perhaps focus more on psychopathy and sadism. Moreover, our results emphasize the relevance of quantile regression in personality research and suggest that even psychopathy and sadism may not be suitable predictors for low levels of trolling behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Alida Volkmer
- School of Management, Professorship for Digital Marketing, Technical University of Munich, Heilbronn, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Susanne Gaube
- LMU Center for Leadership and People Management, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Infection Prevention and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Martina Raue
- MIT AgeLab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Eva Lermer
- LMU Center for Leadership and People Management, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Business Psychology, Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, Augsburg, Germany
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Bowman ND, Rieger D, Lin JHT. Social video gaming and well-being. Curr Opin Psychol 2022; 45:101316. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Yoon Lee S, Yao MZ, Yi-Fan Su L. Expressing unpopular opinion or trolling: Can dark personalities differentiate them? TELEMATICS AND INFORMATICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tele.2021.101645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Cook CL, Schaafsma J, Antheunis ML, Shahid S, Lin JHT, Nijtmans HW. Trolls Without Borders: A Cross-Cultural Examination of Victim Reactions to Verbal and Silent Aggression Online. Front Psychol 2021; 12:549955. [PMID: 34140907 PMCID: PMC8203910 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.549955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trolling-the online exploitation of website, chat, or game mechanics at another user's expense-can and does take place all over cyberspace. It can take myriad forms, as well-some verbal, like trash-talking an opponent in a game, and some silent, like refusing to include a new player in a team effort during an in-game quest. However, despite this variety, there are few to no studies comparing the effects of these differing trolling types on victims. In addition, no study has yet taken into account users' offline cultural context and norms into the trolling victim experience. To fill this gap in the literature, the present study put participants from three culturally-distinct countries-Pakistan, Taiwan, and the Netherlands-in a simulated trolling interaction using the Cyberball game. Participants were either flamed (read: harshly insulted) or ostracized by a member of their own cultural group (ingroup) or a minority member (outgroup), and the participants' emotional responses, behavioral intentions toward the other players, and messages sent during the game were taken as indicators of their response to the trolling. Results showed that our Taiwanese sample used the most reactive aggression when trolled and our Dutch sample was the most passive. In addition, ostracism generally produced the desire to repair relationships, irrespective of cultural context, and perpetrator culture (ingroup or outgroup) only produced an effect in the behavioral intentions of our Pakistani sample. Overall, it would appear that online and offline culture interact to produce the variety of responses to trolling seen in extant literature. Additional implications for future research into computer-mediated communication and online aggression are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Linda Cook
- Department of Information Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Juliette Schaafsma
- Department of Communication and Cognition, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | | | - Suleman Shahid
- Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Jih-Hsuan Tammy Lin
- Department of Advertising, National Chengchi University, Taiwan Institute for Governance and Communication Research, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hanne W Nijtmans
- Department of American Studies, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Abstract
With the advent of digital games came the advent of gamer cultures and identities. A “gamer” became a new social first for the group of individuals who played video games (primarily in arcades) in the late 1970’s. Over time, however, gamer cultures have grown into what is largely discussed as “toxic cultures,” and come to become more associated with exclusion than inclusion if you don’t fit a certain mold. Despite its prevalence, deviant behaviors in games as a subject of academic study is a confusing space, with different researchers using different criteria to describe the same things. This article provides the first comprehensive cataloging and overview of dark participation in games. This includes defining these behaviors, cataloging their variants, and discussing their social and psychological impact and their potential underpinnings. It is critical to establish a shared language about what these behaviors are in order to effectively understand and combat them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Kowert
- Independent Researcher, Take This, Seattle, WA, United States
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Sorokowski P, Kowal M, Zdybek P, Oleszkiewicz A. Are Online Haters Psychopaths? Psychological Predictors of Online Hating Behavior. Front Psychol 2020; 11:553. [PMID: 32292374 PMCID: PMC7121332 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite growing prevalence of derogatory online behaviors, still little is known about psychological factors underlying this negative phenomenon. In the present study, we aimed to compare characteristics of persons who post hating and non-hating comments about Polish sports players during Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang (2018) on the Internet. Ninety-four Internet users (41% women) participated in the study, among which 46 posted hating comments. After 1 month, participants were invited to take part in a psychological survey, and filled the Dark Triad questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Scale of Frustration, and the Scale of Envy. Results showed that high scores in Psychopathy subscale were significant predictors of posting hating comments online; high scores on the Envy Scale were marginally significant. Our findings provide initial evidence that persons who engage in derogatory online behavior have a high level of Psychopathy, but, contrary to previous studies, do not have elevated levels of other traits, commonly associated with disruptive behavior. Our research is one of the first to establish a psychological background of online haters, while setting a clear line between online hating and other derogatory online behaviors (e.g., trolling, cyber-bullying, or hatred speech).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Kowal
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Anna Oleszkiewicz
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland.,Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Carl Gustav Carus Medical School, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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March E. Psychopathy, sadism, empathy, and the motivation to cause harm: New evidence confirms malevolent nature of the Internet Troll. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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March E, Marrington J. A Qualitative Analysis of Internet Trolling. CYBERPSYCHOLOGY BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL NETWORKING 2019; 22:192-197. [PMID: 30720370 DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2018.0210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Internet trolling is receiving increasing research attention and exploration; however, disagreement and confusion surround definitions of the behavior. In the current study, 379 participants (60 percent women) completed an online questionnaire providing qualitative responses to the following: How do you define Internet trolling? What kind of behaviors constitutes Internet trolling? Does Internet trolling differ from Internet cyberbullying? Have you ever been trolled online, and if so how did it feel? Word frequency analyses indicated that Internet trolling is most commonly characterized as an abusive aggressive behavior. Responses also highlight the subjective nature of humor in trolling depending on whether an individual has trolled. Interestingly, the groups that indicated trolling as a "bullying" behavior were the groups who had never been trolled. Results of the current study highlight the need to differentiate between "kudos" trolling and Cyber Abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evita March
- 1 Federation University Australia, School of Health Science and Life Sciences, Berwick Campus, Australia
| | - Jessica Marrington
- 2 School of Psychology and Counselling, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich Campus, Australia
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