Trolls are something most people who have spent any time online will have encountered.  The act of deliberately trying to provoke others seems to be a feature of online communities.  While it may seem an utterly pointless endeavor, recent research from Brigham Young University highlights the subtle motivations behind their behavior.

The researchers surveyed a few hundred Reddit users and found that those with the so-called dark triad personality traits of psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism, were most likely to be trolls, especially if these were mixed with deriving pleasure from other’s misfortune.

“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,” the researchers say. “They engage in trolling at the expense of others.”

Pleasure from pain

What’s more, the study found that those who derive pleasure from the pain of others actually thought that trolling was acceptable behavior.  Among the women who participated, the majority thought that trolling was generally the preserve of dysfunctional men, whereas men tended to disagree.

“This behavior may happen because it feels appropriate to the medium,” the researchers continue. “So, heavy users of the platform may feel like any and all trolling is ‘functional’ simply because it’s what people do when they go on Reddit.”

Interestingly, those who derive strong pleasure from the misfortune of others believe that trolling is a form of communication that actually benefits the communities they’re a part of.  This is largely because they don’t tend to view their actions as negative or as having any consequences for the people on the other side.

“They are more concerned with enhancing their own online experience rather than creating a positive online experience for people who do not receive the same type of enjoyment or pleasure from such provocative discussions,” the researchers say.

A more positive culture

All is not entirely lost for community managers, however, as the researchers found no direct link between members being outspoken and exhibiting trolling behavior.  This suggests that more cordial and constructive debates are certainly feasible.

“Remember who you are when you go online,” the researchers say. “It helps when we think of others online as humans, people with families and friends like you and me, people who feel deeply and sometimes suffer. When we forget their identities as actual people, seeing them instead as merely usernames or avatars, it becomes easier to engage in trolling.”

The researchers suggest that the key is to approach online discussions with as open a mind as possible so that the full variety of differing perspectives can be considered.

“Digital media gives us the power to connect with people who have similar and different ideas, interests, and experiences from our own. As we connect with people online, we should strive to be more respectful of others and other points of view, even when another person’s perspective may not align with our own,” the researchers conclude. “Each of us has the power to be an influence for good online. We can do this by exercising mutual respect. We can build others up and applaud the good online.”