A recent study conducted in Germany has uncovered a fascinating connection between narcissistic traits and internet trolling behavior. The research found that individuals with higher levels of narcissism are more likely to engage in trolling, but this tendency is diminished in those with high self-esteem. This suggests that self-esteem may act as a protective factor, neutralizing the negative effects of narcissism on trolling behavior. The research was published in Telematics and Informatics.
Trolling, in the context of online behavior, refers to the deliberate act of provoking or upsetting others by posting inflammatory, disruptive, or off-topic messages within online communities or social media platforms. The primary goal of trolls is to elicit emotional reactions, create chaos, or derail conversations for their amusement. Trolling can vary widely in its intensity, from mild teasing to severe harassment, and it can target both individuals and groups. This behavior often includes spreading misinformation, making offensive comments, or engaging in cyberbullying. While some trolls may do this purely for entertainment, others might have more malicious intentions, seeking to cause real harm.
As the time people spend on social media platforms has increased, so too has the prevalence of trolling. This rise in trolling has prompted researchers to investigate the psychological characteristics that might predispose individuals to derive pleasure from such disruptive activities. Online trolling is generally considered a form of aggressive behavior, but unlike other forms of aggression, it often provides no tangible benefits to the troll, apart from psychological satisfaction. This unique aspect of trolling has led researchers to explore the underlying psychological traits that might explain why certain individuals are drawn to this behavior.
The study, led by Elke Rohmann and her colleagues, aimed to examine the relationships between different forms of narcissism—vulnerable and grandiose—self-esteem, aggression, and trolling behavior. The researchers hypothesized that both forms of narcissism would be linked to higher levels of aggression, and in turn, more aggressive individuals would be more prone to engaging in online trolling. However, they also posited that high self-esteem would mitigate this relationship, making narcissists with high self-esteem less likely to engage in trolling.
Vulnerable narcissism is characterized by hypersensitivity, insecurity, and a strong need for admiration while harboring feelings of inadequacy. Grandiose narcissism, on the other hand, is marked by an inflated sense of self-importance, entitlement, and a lack of empathy, accompanied by arrogance and a desire for dominance. The study authors noted that these characteristics make narcissists more likely to engage in antagonistic behaviors towards other people. However, high self-esteem should make narcissists more agreeable, conscientious, and open to experience, and thus less likely to engage in internet trolling.
The study involved 216 German adults who participated in an online survey hosted on the Qualtrics platform. However, the researchers focused their analysis on the 149 participants who reported that they actively comment on the internet. This distinction was crucial because the researchers wanted to ensure that the data accurately reflected the behavior of individuals who engage in online commenting, as it is impossible to assess trolling tendencies in those who do not participate in such activities.
The average age of the participants was 24 years, and the sample included 46 males. Notably, 78% of the participants were students. The survey included several assessments: grandiose narcissism was measured using the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, vulnerable narcissism was assessed with the Narcissism Inventory Revised, self-esteem was evaluated with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, aggression was measured using the Aggression Questionnaire, and trolling behavior was assessed using the Global Assessment of Internet Trolling – Revised. These measures provided a comprehensive view of the participants’ personality traits, self-esteem levels, and tendencies toward aggression and trolling.
The results of the study supported the researchers’ hypotheses. They found that individuals who were more prone to internet trolling also tended to be more aggressive. Both forms of narcissism—grandiose and vulnerable—were linked to higher levels of aggression, and individuals with higher levels of either form of narcissism were more likely to engage in online trolling.
However, self-esteem played a crucial role in moderating these relationships. Among individuals with low self-esteem, the connection between narcissism and trolling was strong; those with high levels of narcissism and low self-esteem were much more likely to engage in trolling.
But when self-esteem was high, the link between narcissism and trolling behavior became minimal. In other words, narcissists with high self-esteem were only slightly more prone to trolling compared to individuals with lower levels of narcissism, indicating that high self-esteem might buffer against the negative tendencies associated with narcissism.
“In summary, this study revealed a positive relationship between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, respectively, and aggression on the one hand and trolling behavior on the other hand. Furthermore, substantial moderation effects of self-esteem on the relationship between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, respectively, with trolling behavior occurred. According to the hypotheses, high self-esteem moderated the connection between the two forms of narcissism and trolling behavior. High self-esteem neutralized the unfavorable impact of high narcissism on trolling,” the study authors concluded.
The study sheds light on the personality structure of internet trolls and psychological mechanisms involved in internet trolling. However, it also has limitations that need to be taken into account. Notably, the design of the study does not allow any definitive cause-and-effect inferences to be made from the data. Additionally, the study was conducted on a group of mostly young people. Results on larger groups, more representative of the general population might not yield identical results.
The study, “Are narcissists trolls? A cross-sectional study about aggression, trolling behavior, narcissism, and the moderating role of self-esteem”, was authored by Elke Rohmann, Sarah Marie Winkler, Phillip Ozimek, and Hans-Werner Bierhof.
