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MENTAL MODEL · M5891

Internet Troll

Internet Troll
BehaviorHigh supportPsychology
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

A person who deliberately posts provocative, off-topic, or inflammatory remarks in online communities, aiming to disrupt normal communication, provoke others, or start arguments. The motivation is often attention seeking or sadism.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Harvester of negative emotions. A troll's food is your anger. The only rule for dealing with trolls: "Don't feed the trolls." Complete ignorance is the only way to starve them.

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Trolls profit from provoking others' anger and responses through inflammatory remarks (attention or sadism); their drive comes from "interaction feedback," and silence and neglect can cut off their reward loop.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrollingZH · Explicit
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