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Haters Gonna Hate, Trolls Gonna Troll: The Personality Profile of a Facebook Troll

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  • Haukur Freyr Gylfason

    (Department of Business, Reykjavik University, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland)

  • Anita Hrund Sveinsdottir

    (Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland)

  • Vaka Vésteinsdóttir

    (Department of Psychology, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland)

  • Rannveig Sigurvinsdottir

    (Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, 102 Reykjavik, Iceland)

Abstract

Personality factors, such as the Dark Tetrad personality factors (Machiavellianism, narcissism and sadism) relate to greater online trolling. Other personality factors, such as the Big Five Personality factors, honesty–humility and negative social potency, may also play a role in cyberbullying, which is an aggressive behavior similar to trolling. The purpose of this study was to predict Facebook trolling behavior based on personality factors. A total of 139 participants completed a survey on their online behavior and personality factors. Online trolling behavior positively correlated with sadism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism, and negatively correlated with agreeableness, conscientiousness and honesty–humility. A hierarchical linear regression showed that sadism, Machiavellianism and negative social potency were the only unique predictors of online trolling behavior. Trolling was unrelated to the frequency of Facebook use and the frequency of commenting. Enjoyment of trolling fully mediated the relationship between Machiavellianism and the trolling behavior. The results thus suggested that Facebook trolling behaviors may be motivated by enjoying the manipulation of others.

Suggested Citation

  • Haukur Freyr Gylfason & Anita Hrund Sveinsdottir & Vaka Vésteinsdóttir & Rannveig Sigurvinsdottir, 2021. "Haters Gonna Hate, Trolls Gonna Troll: The Personality Profile of a Facebook Troll," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5722-:d:562784
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel Falla & Rosario Ortega-Ruiz & Eva M. Romera, 2021. "Mechanisms of Moral Disengagement in the Transition from Cybergossip to Cyberaggression: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Raquel Escortell & David Aparisi & María Carmen Martínez-Monteagudo & Beatriz Delgado, 2020. "Personality Traits and Aggression as Explanatory Variables of Cyberbullying in Spanish Preadolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-11, August.
    3. Gylfason, Haukur Freyr & Arnardottir, Audur Arna & Kristinsson, Kari, 2013. "More on gender differences in lying," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 119(1), pages 94-96.
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    Cited by:

    1. Monika Verbalyte & Christoph Keitel & Krista Howard, 2022. "Online Trolls: Unaffectionate Psychopaths or Just Lonely Outcasts and Angry Partisans?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(4), pages 396-410.
    2. Kolbrun Harpa Kristinsdottir & Haukur Freyr Gylfason & Rannveig Sigurvinsdottir, 2021. "Narcissism and Social Media: The Role of Communal Narcissism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, September.

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