The Psychology of Trolling

Summary

The video script from SciShow delves into the complex world of internet trolling, exploring its various forms and the motivations behind it. It begins by defining trolling as posting off-topic or inflammatory comments to disrupt online conversations. While some trolls are benign, others engage in harmful behaviors, leading to the common advice of avoiding online comments sections. The video outlines the origins of trolling in the early 1990s on platforms like Usenet and explains the evolution of the term to include a broader range of disruptive behaviors, from playful griefing in gaming to harmful cyberbullying. It also touches on the psychological aspects, introducing the concept of the Online Disinhibition Effect, which describes how the anonymity of the internet can lead to a loosening of social inhibitions. The script discusses the factors contributing to this effect, such as dissociative anonymity and the minimization of authority online. It further examines the correlation between trolling behavior and traits associated with the Dark Triad or Dark Tetrad of personality types. The video concludes by highlighting the importance of understanding the psychology behind trolling to combat its more severe forms and suggests that fostering a sense of community and enforcing civility in online spaces can help reduce harmful trolling. It ends with a reminder to viewers not to engage with trolls, encapsulating the essence of the video's exploration into the multifaceted nature of online trolling.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The Internet is a platform full of information and communities, but it also has dark sides, including trolls who disrupt online conversations.
• 😈 Trolling can range from harmless goofiness to harmful behavior, such as posting inflammatory comments or threats.
• 📚 Trolling originated in the early 1990s on discussion boards like Usenet, where it was initially a form of pranking new users.
• 🎮 Some trolls, known as griefers, disrupt online gaming communities, sometimes escalating to harmful behavior like racial insults.
• 🌐 Groups like Anonymous emerged from trolling communities and use their methods for political activism and opposing online censorship.
• 🚫 Cyber-bullying is a form of trolling that involves harassing individuals, including posting on memorial pages of deceased individuals.
• 🧐 Behavioral scientists are studying the psychology behind why individuals become trolls and the impact of online spaces on behavior.
• 📉 The Online Disinhibition Effect, coined by John Suler, describes how the anonymity of the Internet can lead to a loosening of social inhibitions.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Factors contributing to the Online Disinhibition Effect include anonymity, invisibility, asynchronicity, dehumanization, and a lack of authority.
• 🧬 Recent studies have linked more aggressive trolling with traits associated with the Dark Triad or Dark Tetrad of personality types.
• 🔑 Only a small fraction of Internet users identify as trolls, suggesting that the majority of online interactions are not malicious.
• 🤔 The psychology of trolling can inform strategies to combat it, such as humanizing victims to make trolls realize the harm they are causing.

Q & A

What does the term 'trolling' generally refer to in the context of online interactions?

Trolling refers to the act of someone posting off-topic or inflammatory comments with the intention of disrupting an online conversation.

When and where is trolling believed to have originated?

Trolling is believed to have originated in the early 1990s on discussion boards like Usenet, which were early versions of message boards or forums.

What is the term coined by John Suler in 2004 that describes the loosening of social inhibitions due to online anonymity?

The term coined by John Suler is the 'Online Disinhibition Effect'.

According to Dr. Suler, what are the six key factors that contribute to the Online Disinhibition Effect?

The six key factors are dissociative anonymity, invisibility, asynchronicity, solipsistic introjection, dissociative imagination, and minimization of authority.

What is the term used to describe people who enjoy trolling others online for various reasons, including for a joke or more harmful purposes?

People who enjoy trolling others online are often referred to as 'trolls'.

What is the term used to describe individuals who engage in harmful online gaming behavior, such as placing TNT everywhere in a Minecraft server?

These individuals are known as 'griefers'.

What is the 'Dark Triad' or 'Dark Tetrad', and how is it related to trolling behavior?

The Dark Triad or Dark Tetrad refers to a group of personality traits that include Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism. These traits have been found to correlate with more aggressive kinds of trolls.

What is the 'Broken Windows Theory' as it applies to online communities?

The Broken Windows Theory in the context of online communities suggests that areas with a history of trolling are more likely to attract further negative behavior, while communities that enforce civility tend to deter harmful trolls.

What does the phrase 'don't feed the trolls' mean, and why is it a recommended strategy?

The phrase 'don't feed the trolls' means to avoid responding or engaging with trolls, as it can encourage their disruptive behavior. It is recommended because engaging with trolls often gives them the attention they seek, which can exacerbate the situation.

What is the role of anonymity in the behavior of trolls, and how can reducing anonymity potentially combat aggressive trolling?

Anonymity on the Internet can fuel aggressive trolling by allowing individuals to behave without fear of personal consequences. Reducing anonymity can combat this by making trolls realize their actions have real-world implications and can harm others.

What is the significance of humanizing oneself when dealing with trolls, and how can it potentially reduce harmful interactions?

Humanizing oneself makes it more difficult for trolls to dehumanize and dissociate from the person they are targeting. This can lead to a realization that their actions have real emotional impacts on actual people, potentially reducing harmful interactions.

How does the anonymity of the Internet contribute to the Online Disinhibition Effect, and what are some of the negative consequences that can arise from it?

The anonymity of the Internet allows people to hide their true identities, leading to a sense of invisibility and irresponsibility. This can result in more disinhibited behavior, including trolling, cyberbullying, and other forms of harmful online interactions.