Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MA
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Communication Studies
Committee Chair
Matthew M. Martin
Committee Member
Christine E. Rittenour
Committee Member
John G. Cole
Abstract
Previous literature into online trolling behavior has focused upon the role of the Dark Tetrad and political measures separately. This study extended the existing body of research by examining the relationship between the Dark Tetrad personality traits, social dominance orientation (SDO) and online political trolling in the United States of America. The data was collected using an online questionnaire from American users of Facebook and Reddit in the summer of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter movement, and in the runup to a hotly contested national election. Positive correlations were found between all of the Dark Tetrad traits, SDO, with each other and trolling behavior. Regression analysis found positive correlations between Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and SDO with trolling behavior. These traits accounted for 55.9% of the variance in trolling behavior.
Recommended Citation
Taylor, Cory D., "The dark tetrad, social dominance orientation, and online political discussion" (2020). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 7966.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7966
Included in
Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Other Communication Commons, Other Political Science Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Social Media Commons