Trolling, the dark tetrad, and the four-facet spectrum of narcissism

Trolling is an antisocial online behavior that involves the aggressive provocation of others by causing conflict for the “troll's” own personal amusement. In the current study, we explore the utility of the facets of narcissism (agentic, communal, antagonistic, and neurotic) to predict perpetration of trolling, over and above the variance explained by gender, psychopathy, and sadism. We hypothesised that men would troll more than women, that psychopathy, sadism, and antagonistic narcissism would be positive predictors, and agentic, communal, and neurotic narcissism would be negative predictors. Participants (N = 444; 66 % women, 34 % men; Mage = 34.95, SD = 14.84) were recruited via social media (i.e., Facebook) and Cloud Research to complete an anonymous, online questionnaire that comprised measures of personality and trolling behaviors. Results partially supported the hypothesis, with men, people with high psychopathy, and people with high sadism perpetrating more trolling. Unexpectedly, people with high communal narcissism and neurotic narcissism perpetrated more trolling. Antagonistic narcissism and agentic narcissism were nonsignificant predictors. These findings implicate the utility of exploring the facets of narcissism and provide important information regarding the psychological profile of trolls. © 2023 The Author

Cognitive Effects of Repeated Acute Exposure to Very High Altitude Among Altitude-Experienced Workers at 5050 m

Background: We investigated altitude effects on different cognitive domains among perennial shift-workers at the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Observatory (5050 m), Chile. Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy male workers were recruited and assigned to either a moderate-altitude first (MAF group, Test 1: 2900 m and Test 2: 5050 m) or to a high-altitude first (HAF group, Test 1: 5050 m and Test 2: 2900 m). Test 1 was conducted at the beginning and Test 2 at the end of the shift-work week. Processing speed (RTI, reaction time), attention (AST, attention-switching task, and RVP, rapid visual processing), and executive function (OTS, One Touch Stockings of Cambridge) were assessed. Results: Of the three cognitive domains assessed, only processing speed showed altitude-at-test group interaction (RTI median five choice reaction time: F1, 17 = 6.980,  = 0.291, p = 0.017). With acclimatization, there was a decrease in AST reaction latency mean (t17 = −2.155, dz = 1.086, p = 0.046), an increase in RVP accuracy (t17 = 2.733, dz = 1.398, p = 0.014), and a decrease in OTS mean latency first choice (t17 = −2.375, dz = 1.211, p = 0.03). Decreased variability in cognitive function was observed in AST reaction latency standard deviation (t17 = −2.524, dz = 1.282, p = 0.022) and in RVP response latency standard deviation (t17 = −2.35, dz = 1.177, p = 0.03) with acclimatization. At 5050 m of elevation, SpO2 was positively correlated with executive function in the MAF group (OTS problems solved on first choice: r(5) = 0.839, p = 0.018) and negatively correlated with executive function latency standard deviations in the HAF group (OTS latency to first choice standard deviation: r(10) = −0.618, p = 0.032). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of acclimatization and improvement of blood oxygen level, even among high altitude-experienced workers, to optimize performance of cognitively demanding work and reduce high altitude-associated health risks

Effects on Cognitive Functioning of Acute, Subacute and Repeated Exposures to High Altitude

Neurocognitive functions are affected by high altitude, however the altitude effects of acclimatization and repeated exposures are unclear. We investigated the effects of acute, subacute and repeated exposure to 5,050 m on cognition among altitude-naïve participants compared to control subjects tested at low altitude. Twenty-one altitude-naïve individuals (25.3 ± 3.8 years, 13 females) were exposed to 5,050 m for 1 week ( and re-exposed after a week of rest at sea-level (). Baseline (BL, 520 m), acute (Day 1, HA1) and acclimatization (Day 6, HA6, 5,050 m) measurements were taken in both cycles. Seventeen control subjects (24.9 ± 2.6 years, 12 females) were tested over a similar period in Calgary, Canada (1,103 m). The Reaction Time (RTI), Attention Switching Task (AST), Rapid Visual Processing (RVP) and One Touch Stockings of Cambridge (OTS) tasks were administered and outcomes were expressed in milliseconds/frequencies. Lake Louise Score (LLS) and blood oxygen saturation (SpO) were recorded. In both cycles, no significant changes were found with acute exposure on the AST total score, mean latency and SD. Significant changes were found upon acclimatization solely in the altitude group, with improved AST Mean Latency [HA1 (588 ± 92) vs. HA6 (526 ± 91), < 0.001] and Latency SD [HA1 (189 ± 86) vs. HA6 (135 ± 65), < 0.001] compared to acute exposure, in . No significant differences were present in the control group. When entering Acute SpO (HA1-BL), Acclimatization SpO (HA6-BL) and LLS score as covariates for both cycles, the effects of acclimatization on AST outcomes disappeared indicating that the changes were partially explained by SpO and LLS. The changes in AST Mean Latency [ΔBL (-61.2 ± 70.2) vs. ΔHA6 (-28.0 ± 58), = 0.005] and the changes in Latency SD [ΔBL (-28.4 ± 41.2) vs. ΔHA6 (-0.2235 ± 34.8), = 0.007] across the two cycles were smaller with acclimatization. However, the percent changes did not differ between cycles. These results indicate independent effects of altitude across repeated exposures. Selective and sustained attention are impaired at altitude and improves with acclimatization.The observed changes are associated, in part, with AMS score and SpO. The gains in cognition with acclimatization during a first exposure are not carried over to repeated exposures