The Psychology of Trolling

What is the basic definition of trolling in online conversations?

• Posting comments to make friends

• Sharing helpful information with others

• Posting off-topic or inflammatory comments to disrupt a conversation

• Creating new online communities

In the early 1990s, how did experienced users "troll for newbies" on discussion boards like Usenet?

• By sharing personal stories and experiences

• By asking overly naive questions or making posts about over-discussed topics

• By creating new and exciting discussion topics

• By offering technical support to new users

What term describes the loosening of social inhibitions online due to the internet's anonymity, making people willing to behave differently than in real life?

• Digital Identity Crisis

• Online Disinhibition Effect

• Virtual Reality Syndrome

• Cyber Personality Disorder

Which factor of the Online Disinhibition Effect involves creating a character of the other person in your mind, leading to a disconnect between the real conversation and your imagined version of them?

• Dissociative Anonymity

• Invisibility

• Solipsistic Introjection

• Minimization of Authority

Which personality trait describes someone predisposed to being cold and detached in order to manipulate others?

• Machiavellianism

• Narcissism

• Sadism

• Antisocial Personality Disorder

What did a 2014 online survey find about people who enjoyed trolling other people?

• They were mostly teenagers.

• They had positive correlations with several specific personality traits.

• They spent less overall time posting comments online.

• They were more likely to be extroverted.

According to the 'Broken Windows Theory' as applied to online communities, what is likely to happen in communities where there is already a lot of mean-spirited trolling?

• They will become more organized and structured.

• Similar trolls will gather and participate more.

• They will quickly become civil and friendly.

• Most users will ignore them and move on.

What is one way to potentially reduce aggressive online trolling by 'undoing the online disinhibition effect'?

• By making online platforms completely anonymous.

• By ignoring all negative comments and interactions.

• By humanizing the victims of trolling.

• By increasing the number of online communities.