The internet has created a group of people who post inflammatory, irrelevant or offensive comments online, and now a study has revealed what motivates someone to become a troll.
Researchers from Brigham Young University found those who share such content have the dark triad personality traits, (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy) coupled with schadenfreude, a German word describing someone receiving pleasure from other people's misfortunes.
Those with schadenfreude, according to the team, consider trolling to be a form of communication that enriches, rather than obstructs, online discussion.
Pamela Brubaker, BYU public relations professor and co-author of the study, said in a statement: 'People who exhibit those traits known as the dark triad are more likely to demonstrate trolling behaviors if they derive enjoyment from passively observing others suffer.
'They engage in trolling at the expense of others.'
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Researchers from Brigham Young University found those who share such content have the dark triad personality traits, (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy)
Burbaker and her colleagues examined the psychological predictors that motivate trolling behaviors, as well as perceptions of trolling among 438 Reddit users.
'Online trolls have been described as self-aggrandizing, individualistic, and unremorseful in their behavior,' reads the study published in the journal of Social Media and Society.
'Research suggests that trolls possess dark personality traits, including psychopathy, narcissism, sadism, and Machiavellianism.'
Machiavellianism is a personality trait that denotes cunningness, the ability to be manipulative, and a drive to use whatever means necessary to gain power.
They also posses schadenfreude, a German word describing someone receiving pleasure from other people's misfortunes. Those with schadenfreude, according to the team, consider trolling to be a form of communication
