Personality and internet trolling: a validation study of a Representative Sample

Abstract To date, characteristics of the internet “troll” have largely been explored in general community samples, which may lack representation sample interest. In this brief report, we aimed to evidence role gender and personality traits sadism, psychopathy, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness a individuals who self-report having perpetrating trolling behaviours. Participants ( N = 163; 50.3% women; Mage 27.35, SD 8.78) were recruited via social media advertisements completed an anonymous online questionnaire. The variables explained 55.5% variance trolling. We found self-reported trolls more likely be men higher lower agreeableness. Findings representative implications for understanding, managing, preventing antisocial behaviour.