Constructing the cyber-troll: Psychopathy, sadism, and empathy

“higher levels of trait psychopathy and sadism predicted trolling behaviour”

h/t Miko

This is a good paper quantifying the obvious, which is harmful trolls like Susan, Brad, Mike, Remi, Fred, Matt and Nicole are sadistic psychopaths. I can tell you from first-hand experience this is 100% accurate.

“trolls employ an empathic strategy of predicting and recognising the emotional suffering of their victims, while abstaining from the experience of these negative emotions. Thus, trolls appear to be master manipulators of both cyber-settings and their victims' emotions.“