Internet Trolls-Classic Trolls & Predatory Trolls Evolved

Another great addition to the evolving field of recognizing and studying Trolls. Dr. Nuccitelli's work is definitely needed and helpful. It is important to understand the types of Trolls, and to know how dangerous they are.

"Internet Trolls Evolved" by Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D.

The evolution of Internet Trolls was written to introduce my belief that trolls have evolved into two classes. Although there are many types, as presented in my web article “100+ Internet Troll Types & Troll Resources”, I believe these typologies fall into two classes. They have evolved from the generally accepted traditional definition of Internet Troll and branched off into the Classic Troll and Predatory Troll. Below I provide a brief definition for each followed by the standard Internet Troll definition. It is important to note that these two classes fall upon a continuum of severity regarding the intentional harm and abuse they cause. Whereas Classic Trolls tend to be focused on provoking an online user, Predatory Trolls seek to destroy an online user’s reputation, integrity, trustworthiness, career and family system.

Both the Classic and Predatory Troll are susceptible to having psychopathic, narcissistic, sadistic and machiavellian personality traits. I believe it is the Predatory Troll who is more apt to exhibit these antisocial qualities. The more predatorial an Internet Troll is, the more he or she exhibits these traits. Of the two classes, Classic Trolls have the lowest potential of manifesting the dark tetrad. Furthermore, Classic Trolls are less likely to meet the criteria of iPredator and all Predatory Trolls fit the criteria for iPredator or iPredator Bridge. The definitions of Classic Troll, Predatory Troll and Internet Troll are as follows:

Classic Trolls: Classic Trolls have been around since the birth of the internet and social media. They are online users who randomly choose other online users to anger, provoke and defame. Classic Trolls tend to be loners and do not encourage their peers or online associates to join in their attacks. Like all trolls, Classic Trolls are driven by needs for power, recognition, peer acceptance and control. Their primary goal is to incite their target to anger. Once they have achieved this aim, they typically move on to another target. Classic Trolls rarely engage in habitual or severe defamation, slander and libel. Their target’s response is anger, frustration and anxiety. Classic Trolls focus on one online user and rarely involve the target’s job, family members or loved ones. Although they will always exist, Classic Trolls are being replaced by Predatory Trolls.

Predatory Trolls: Predatory Trolls are a new breed of Internet Troll that evolved from the Classic Troll. They are online users who both choose online users randomly and intentionally. Just as Classic Trolls, Predatory Trolls can be ex-work associates, ex-partners and loved ones. They may also be unknown online users. Predatory Trolls may target others alone, but increasingly work in groups (aka, Troll Triad). Like all trolls, Predatory Trolls are driven by needs for power, recognition, peer acceptance and control. Different from Classic Trolls is that their primary goal is to destroy an online user’s reputation, online presence and trustworthiness. With the advancement of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Predatory Trolls may be employed by groups and governments in covert operations to destroy a target’s reputation.

Predatory Trolls seek to destroy their target’s reputation and the reputation of their family members, children, careers and loved ones. They always engage in defamation, slander, libel, disinformation campaigns and criminal defamation. All Predatory Trolls meet criteria for either iPredator or iPredator Bridge and skilled in Cyberstealth. The response of their target is more than anger, frustration and anxiety. Depending on the intensity of attacks, some targets become traumatized and may suffer psychological dysfunction. As the Information Age advances, Predatory Trolls will become increasingly problematic to all aspects of society."