Why Do People Post Hate Comments? Understanding Their Mindset

Hate comments have now become a rampant phenomenon in the digital era disrupting the lives of the people, society and even national discourse. But why? Do you know what triggers them to post hate comments? Recent studies and psychological researches give a unique and fact-based insight into the psychology of online hate, and discloses a complicated interrelation of individual characteristics, social influences and loopholes in the regulation.

Why do People Post Hate Comments?

1. Emotional Frustration and Jealousy: It has been found that hate comments are posted by individuals who become frustrated and envious when the personal objectives or ambitions are not achieved. As an example, when India’s Got Latent was called out by the court, people started to post hate comments and abusive comments on the post of judges along with the core team. This trend is not unusual, public figures, celebrities, and even regular users become targets in case their followers are disappointed or jealous.
2. Exposure and Desensitization: In a fMRI study published in 2023, it was shown that desensitization to hate speech repeated exposure can decrease empathy, which in turn increases the possibility of the individual conducting such treatment. This compassion collapse translates to the fact that individuals become desensitized to the suffering of others in life, particularly subjects belonging to the perceived outsiders or outgroups.
3. Social Contagion and Group Process: Hate speech is contagious. When hateful speech becomes an accepted way of communication within people's online environments, they are more likely to engage in them. Group dynamics further support this because projecting hate may get to be an approach of sharing the idea that one is loyal to a specific group or community. 

The Mentality of Hate Commenters

According to a seminal research published in Frontiers in Psychology, those who write hate comments online are frequently so psychopathic that they possess the character trait of egocentricity, lack of sympathy, and moral depravity. Although other characteristics (such as envy or narcissism) may be used, psychopathy was identified as the most reliable predictor of online hate.

The perceived anonymity of the internet reduces social inhibitions, and one can express hate without fear of offending them in real life. This so-called online disinhibition effect promotes individuals to utter things that they would never have said face to face.

Some post hate messages in an attempt to express anger, establish dominance or gain a sense of power where they feel powerless. This may be encouraged by the immediate response loop of likes, shares or replies.

What is the Government Doing?

Hate comments have a severe and broad range of physical and psychological effects, such as mental illnesses, bullying, and physical violence, yet there is little government control over them. Laws against hate speech already exist in many countries, and India is one of them; however, implementation is commonly feeble, and statutory definitions may not be clear, or even adequate. Platforms are inconsistent in dealing with hate comments, and a lot of them are not caught.

Some governments and organizations are trying an alternative to harsh censorship: counterspeech: responding to hate with empathy or corrections to the facts. A 2021 study conducted at ETH Zurich showed that the empathy-based counter speech is capable of countering hate speech, but only to a moderate degree. Nevertheless, this type of intervention is not common and systematic yet.

These hate messages actually produce real-life consequences to the victims, causing anxieties, depressions, and insecurities- even in the non-digital space. The most impacted people are usually those in marginalized groups and the psychological effects and aftermath can be long-term.

A combination of personal frustration, hard personality characteristics, social contagion, and the enabling atmosphere of online anonymity contribute to the mindset of hate comments. Despite the promising results of some of the interventions, there is a lot left to do on the platform and policy level. To students, teachers and policy makers, these triggers and mindsets are what they should understand to create healthier communities online.   

Social media hate comments are increasing day by day; it is now a necessity to educate people, make strict laws, and have control over such unethical practices to  prevent social, personal, and national harm.