Abstract

Previous studies have reported that high psychopathic traits are associated with trolling and cyber bullying, which may be intended to exert negative influence on others. However, there has yet been studies comprehensively examining the relationship between psychopathic traits, social network service (SNS) use motives, and SNS dependence. This study investigated the relationship between psychopathic traits and several SNS use motives, and examined mediating role of SNS use motives on relationship between psychopathic traits and dependence on SNS. In our study, 211 college students administered the SNS Addiction Tendency Scale and the SNS Use Motive Scale and the power and social potency motive questionnaire developed by the authors based on previous research. We found that the psychopathic traits significantly predicted dependence on SNS. The positive self-presentation and negative social potency motives perfectly mediated the relationship between the psychopathic traits and dependence on SNS. These results suggest that the online behaviors of psychopathy may be associated with SNS use motives for positively presenting self and showing negative influence on others, which might serve as a reward for individuals with psychopathic traits and lead to SNS addiction.