A Study on the Influence Mechanism of Revenge Motivation on Antisocial Behavior in Digital Social Contexts: The Mediating Role of Aggression and the Moderating Effect of the Dark Triad Personality Traits

Abstract

The rapid development of digital social environments, including social media platforms and online forums, has introduced novel forms of interpersonal tension and antisocial behavior. Grounded in the General Aggression Model and the social cognitive theory of moral disengagement, this study proposes a moderated mediation model to examine how revenge motivation translates into antisocial behavior in digital settings. Specifically, aggression is hypothesized as a mediator in the relationship between revenge motivation and antisocial behavior, while the Dark Triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) are proposed as a moderator that amplifies this indirect effect. Using secondary data from publicly accessible and established large-scale databases, including the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health and the Pew Internet Research datasets, this research employs structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized pathways. The findings are expected to reveal that revenge motivation significantly predicts antisocial behavior through increased aggression, and this mediating process is stronger among individuals with elevated Dark Triad traits. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of cyber aggression and antisocial conduct in digital ecosystems. It also offers practical implications for educational strategies and digital citizenship programs targeting youth populations vulnerable to online victimization and retaliation cycles. By integrating personality psychology with digital behavior research, this work provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying online antisocial conduct and informs evidence-based approaches to promoting healthier digital interactions.