A study by the universities of Granada and Jaén is the first to analyse the relationship between the use of humour and the propensity to perpetrate online trolling
A study carried out by the universities of Granada and Jaén has shown that people who derive pleasure from making fun of others (a personality trait known as katagelasticism) are more likely to perpetrate online trolling. This is the first time the relationship between people’s different humour-related dispositions and their propensity toward online trolling behaviours has been analysed.
Trolling is widely considered a specific form of antisocial behaviour that takes place on different online platforms or websites, such as social networks or virtual discussion forums. This online behaviour manifests itself through malicious and deliberate provocation of other users that is often disrespectful and is fundamentally a means by which the troll simply amuses and entertains themselves.
Previous studies had shown that different components of the so-called ‘dark personality’, which reflects certain malevolent characteristics, are closely related to the tendency to display trolling behaviours. These studies had analysed the relationship between narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism, respectively, and the propensity to troll others online. In general, sadism and psychopathy factors were found to be the most consistent variables of trolling. The authors of the new study, Ginés Navarro-Carrillo, lecturer at the Department of Psychology of the UJA, and Jorge Torres-Marín and Hugo Carretero-Dios of the UGR, explain: “People who presented higher levels of these dark personality traits showed a greater propensity to troll other users online.”
However, the researchers note that there are also other personality traits that may be related to online trolling. In their paper ‘Do trolls just want to have fun? Assessing the role of humour-related traits in online trolling behaviour’, recently published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, they premised their investigation on the idea that certain humour-related dispositions—particularly those associated with so-called ‘dark’ or ‘black’ humour—might be of help in determining the profile of a ‘trolling personality’. This hypothesis primarily drew on previous studies that had found a link between certain humour-related dispositions and dark personality traits and had contended that humour may play an important role in online trolling.
“Taking all of this into account, we aimed to analyse whether different humour-related dispositions or senses of humour—how individuals use humour in their daily lives—were related to trolling and whether these possible associations arose regardless of the dark personality traits of the individuals concerned,” the authors note.
They found that higher levels of katagelasticism and an aggressive or hostile sense of humour (characterised by the use of humour to ridicule or deride others) were indicative of a greater inclination toward online trolling. However, subsequent analyses revealed that only katagelasticism was linked to a greater propensity to exhibit trolling behaviours after controlling for dark personality traits. This demonstrates the importance of this particular humour trait in shaping the trolling personality. Regarding the dark personality, greater (subclinical) psychopathy, relative to the other dimensions, was found to be the most powerful predictor of online trolling.
“Our study provides the first empirical evidence to confirm the relationship between humour, evaluated using different validated models, and online trolling. Our research suggests that dark humour traits, particularly katagelasticism, constitute a characteristic aspect of the troll profile,” the researchers conclude.
The UJA and UGR researchers who conducted this study. From left to right, Ginés Navarro, Hugo Carretero, and Jorge Torres.
Media enquiries:
Hugo Carretero Dios
Department of Behavioural Science Methodology, University of Granada
Tel.: +34 958 246273
Email: hugocd@ugr.es
