Correlatos psicossociais do comportamento de trollagem nas redes sociais

Abstract

The emergence of social networks facilitated communication between individuals, causing a profound impact on various spheres of life. In addition to the benefits brought, this space also enabled the dissemination of online antisocial behaviors. In this sense, one of these behaviors is called trolling. It is characterized by the publication of comments or posts, using misleading, destructive, or disturbing actions, whose purpose is to generate discussions and irritate other users. Considering this behavior, the present dissertation aimed to analyze the influence of psychosocial variables, specifically common personality traits, sadism, psychopathy, social support, involvement with social networks, negative social power, guidance for social dominance and the willingness to ridicule others (Katageslasticism), in the behavior of trolling on social networks. To this end, there was 958 participants, aged 18 and 86 years (M = 39.84; DP = 15.54), predominantly of the female, heterosexual, white and postgraduate. The instruments used were: Social Rewards Questionnaire (SRQ), Short Dark Tetrad (SD4), Phophikat-30, Big Five Inventory -20, the social-reduced perception scale, antisocial content exposure scale, global internet trolling assessment - reduced and the social - reduced dominance orientation scale) and a set of biosocodemographic issues. This research was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Federal University of Ceará - UFC (Opinion No. 6,274,913). For data analysis the SPSS (version 22), factor (version 12.4.5.0) and Jamovi (version 2.4.11.0) software was used. Exploratory factor analyzes were performed, as well as pearson correlations, independent s sample T tests and binary logistics regressions. The results demonstrated adjustment quality indexes of the appropriate model and consistent factorial structure for the validated scales for Brazil, which are suitable for validity and accuracy. Regarding the tests of the hypotheses, psychopathy, sadism and exposure to antisocial contents proved to be predictors of trolling behavior. The other variables investigated showed significant correlations with trolling, with the exception of extroversion, conscientiousness, openness and emotional cognitive support, and significant mean differences when comparing trolls and other users, with the exception of social dominance orientation, extraversion, conscientiousness and instrumental cognitive support. Even in the face of some limitations, this research has achieved the proposed objectives, so that the data found contribute significantly to a better theoretical understanding of this behavior in the national context.