New research has revealed a significant association between certain dark personality traits—specifically Machiavellianism and psychopathy—and support for online harassment known as “doxxing.” Published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, the study found that individuals exhibiting high levels of these traits, along with lower empathy, are more likely to endorse doxxing behaviors, particularly those motivated by pranks and bias.
Doxxing involves publicly disclosing personal and private information about an individual without their consent, often leading to psychological distress, physical danger, and social consequences for the victim. The study focused on the Dark Triad personality traits—Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy—which are known for their negative impact on interpersonal relationships and social outcomes.
The research, conducted by Stephen Foster, an assistant professor of social psychology at Penn State York, and co-author Jasmine Cross, involved 217 participants with an average age of 39. The study explored the relationship between Dark Triad personality traits and support for doxxing, specifically in scenarios of humiliation, pranks, and political bias.
The findings indicated that Machiavellianism and psychopathy were positively correlated with support for doxxing in the contexts of pranks and political bias, while narcissism showed a negative association in these situations. The lack of empathy in individuals with high Machiavellianism and psychopathy was identified as a driving factor for supporting certain doxxing behaviors.
Foster highlighted the importance of acknowledging the impact of doxxing on victims and emphasized that understanding the psychological traits influencing support for such behaviors can contribute to the development of interventions and policies to protect against online harassment. While the study provides insights into the motivations behind supporting doxxing, Foster noted the need for further research to explore actual engagement in doxxing behaviors and related extreme activities like “swatting.”
The study concluded that interventions based on personality findings could potentially be effective through carefully conducted messaging tactics, helping to deter individuals with higher Dark Triad traits from engaging in doxxing behaviors.
