Schadenfreude - Pleasure in other peoples misfortune

Schadenfreude pleasure in other people's misfortune

By: W. E. Souza

INTRODUCTION DEFINITION OF SCHADENFREUDE ORIGIN OF THE TERM AND ITS APPLICATION IN PSYCHOLOGY

SCHADENFREUDE IS A GERMAN WORD THAT MEANS "PLEASURE IN SOMEONE ELSE'S MISFORTUNE". IT'S A COMPLEX FEELING THAT CAN BE CAUSED BY A VARIETY OF FACTORS, INCLUDING SOCIAL COMPARISON, INSECURITY, AND EVEN MALICIOUS GLEE.

WHY DO WE FEEL SCHADENFREUDE?

SOCIAL COMPARISON IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE FEEL SCHADENFREUDE. WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE WHO HAS SOMETHING WE WANT, IT'S NATURAL FOR US TO FEEL INFERIOR OR BAD. THIS CAN LEAD TO FEELINGS OF ANGER, ENVY AND, ULTIMATELY, SCHADENFREUDE.

INSECURITY CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE EMERGENCE OF SCHADENFREUDE. PEOPLE WHO FEEL INSECURE OR INFERIOR ARE MORE LIKELY TO COMPARE THEMSELVES TO OTHERS AND FEEL JEALOUS. THIS CAN LEAD TO FEELINGS OF ANGER AND RESENTMENT, WHICH CAN MANIFEST AS SCHADENFREUDE.

IN SOME CASES, SCHADENFREUDE CAN BE MOTIVATED BY PURE EVIL. PEOPLE WHO FEEL THREATENED OR JEALOUS OF ANOTHER PERSON MAY REJOICE IN THEIR MISFORTUNE.

CAN SCHADENFREUDE BE HARMFUL? SCHADENFREUDE CAN BE A HARMFUL FEELING. IT CAN LEAD TO NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS SUCH AS GOSSIP, SABOTAGE OR EVEN VIOLENCE. FURTHERMORE, SCHADENFREUDE CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR MENTAL HEALTH. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT PEOPLE WHO FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE SCHADENFREUDE ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

HOW TO DEAL WITH SCHADENFREUDE? THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH SCHADENFREUDE IS TO RECOGNIZE IT AND UNDERSTAND ITS CAUSE. IF YOU ARE FEELING SCHADENFREUDE, TRY TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS CAUSING THIS FEELING. ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THE CAUSE, YOU CAN START WORKING TO RESOLVE IT. HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR DEALING WITH SCHADENFREUDE:

RECOGNIZE SCHADENFREUDE WHEN IT ARISES. THINK ABOUT THE REASONS YOU ARE FEELING SCHADENFREUDE. FOCUS ON YOUR OWN GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS. INCREASE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM. SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IF NECESSARY.

REMEMBER THAT SCHADENFREUDE IS A NORMAL FEELING, BUT IT CAN BE HARMFUL IF NOT MANAGED WELL.