Schadenfreude: How to Respond When Bad Things Happen to People You Don't Like

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Key TakeawaysSchadenfreudeis an emotional experience of finding joy in another’s misfortune or struggle.This phenomenon has evolutionary roots, and feeling this way on occasion doesn’t make you a bad person—but it’s a slippery slope.Developing more constructive coping strategies will yield long-lasting benefits.

Key Takeaways

Schadenfreudeis an emotional experience of finding joy in another’s misfortune or struggle.This phenomenon has evolutionary roots, and feeling this way on occasion doesn’t make you a bad person—but it’s a slippery slope.Developing more constructive coping strategies will yield long-lasting benefits.

The president had contracted the very illness he’d been publicly downplaying—a perfect example of a schadenfreude motivator. And while, for many, this may have served as the psychological phenomenon’s gateway introduction, the concept of feeling joy in another’s misfortune is much more common than we might care to admit—or even be aware of.And it turns out, it’s not necessarily the worst thing in the world.

Schadenfreude is more than just an emotion, it’s a coping mechanism.And there are several factors, both internal and external, that draw us to it.

Origins of Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude is a German term that translates to “damage” (schaden) “joy” (freude).It’s the ripple of delight you get from watching fail compilation videos, or the twinge of excitement you feel when a rival coworker doesn’t get the promotion they expected.

Paul Hokemeyer, PhDHaving a competitive edge on other human beings is instinctual.

Paul Hokemeyer, PhD

Having a competitive edge on other human beings is instinctual.

While this phenomenon has gained recent notoriety, the emotion itselfhas been found across culturesover the course of history.In fact, from an evolutionary standpoint, it’s a survival tactic with roots in self-preservation.It’s no accident that the human central nervous system is hardwired to compete.

In this way, the experience of schadenfreude corresponds to self-worth andsocial comparison theory, or the tendency to compare ourselves to others.Observing another individual’s misfortune can induce joy as it validates the observer’s personal identity and boosts their self-esteem.

Internal and External Influences

While schadenfreude is a common human emotion, it can induce feelings of shame and guilt.As products of our largely binary society, we seek to file this experience into one of two categories: Is it “good” or “bad”?

Of course, it’s not that simple. Emotional flexibility is part of being human, and further examining the experience of schadenfreude can actually increase emotional intelligence.

“Schadenfreude happens for a reason,” writes cultural historian Tiffany Watt Smith in her book,Schadenfreude: The Joy of Another’s Misfortune. “And when we are willing to look it in the eye, it’s easier to ask what prompted it in the first place… Noticing our schadenfreude and understanding why it feels so deliciously satisfying can help us face up to the more excruciating feelings underneath.”

Higher use of social media is associated with higher use of this coping strategy, saysJudy Ho, PhD, a neuropsychologist and associate professor of psychology at Pepperdine University. The culture of “one-upping” that’s been cultivated on social media platforms, as well as increased tribalism and polarization, contribute to individuals’ reliance on schadenfreude to boost confidence and self-worth.

Judy Ho, PhDPeople are feeling less and less control and as a result, need to preserve their identity. [Schadenfreude] gives them a sense of control and dominance.

Judy Ho, PhD

People are feeling less and less control and as a result, need to preserve their identity. [Schadenfreude] gives them a sense of control and dominance.

Another emotional trigger that’s especially relevant right now is uncertainty. Ho points to schadenfreude as a coping mechanism humans use in trying to achieve normalcy.

“With the [COVID-19] pandemic, everything has been turned upside down in the world. People are feeling less and less control and as a result, need to preserve their identity,” Ho says. “[Schadenfreude] gives them a sense of control and dominance.”

However, in the realm of coping mechanisms, Ho likens schadenfreude to low-hanging fruit.

“All of us can be allowed these more primitive coping strategies as long as we don’t overuse them and as long as they don’t cause problems or distress in the other areas of your life,” Ho says.

When It Becomes a Problem

Research shows the experience of schadenfreude activates the brain’s reward centers.A hit of dopamine so easily accessible may very well keep us coming back for more.

“When we get hooked into our limbic system, there is an addictive quality to it,”Hokemeyer says. “We become hyperactive, our prefrontal cortex shuts down, and we’re acting on our very primitive emotions.”

In this way, if schadenfreude becomes a go-to coping strategy, it can pose a serious problem to mental health. This consistent dopamine delivery erodes the observer’s ability to empathize, which can be extremely detrimental.Empathy is a key aspect of emotional intelligence, or EQ, that applies to mental balance, healthy relationships, and achieving personal goals and aspirations.

Not to mention, it’s not exactly compassionate to be the one who constantly delights in others’ suffering.  “Using this technique and taking your own EQ farther from an ideal point rips your own coping strategies away,” Ho says. “You feel less connected with people, which does a huge number on your physical and mental health.”

How to Practice Empathy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Developing New Strategies

To partake in schadenfreude doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, but there are healthier coping strategies that yield more sustainable and long-lasting benefits.

It might be a bit uncomfortable at first, but Ho suggests sharing these feelings with a person you trust. “There’s a self-fulfilling prophecy here where you think you’re the only person who does this and start to feel ashamed, so you isolate and do more of it,” Ho says. “Open up the conversation. This is a universal thing.”

For instance, if relief creeps up when a friend shares that they’ve been arguing with their partner, gently let them know how you feel. There’s a good chance your friend can even relate.

For more preventive strategies, Ho recommends taking a social media breakand adopting practices of gratitude and mindfulness.Rewiring your brain to derive joy in healthier ways can be as simple as vocalizing what you’re grateful for in the morning, or creating a joy list.

Write down 10 to 15 activities that boost your mood. They can range from a cup of coffee or long walk to a lavish vacation. Whenever schadenfreude bubbles up—as it inevitably will—counteract it with healthy sources of joy and validation from your list.

What This Means For YouWhile schadenfreude is a universal human emotion, it’s not the healthiest coping strategy available. Indulge with moderation. Humans might be hardwired to compete, but looking to personal progress for points of comparison is of greater benefit than external sources like social media.

What This Means For You

While schadenfreude is a universal human emotion, it’s not the healthiest coping strategy available. Indulge with moderation. Humans might be hardwired to compete, but looking to personal progress for points of comparison is of greater benefit than external sources like social media.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

17 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Summers J.Timeline: How Trump has downplayed the coronavirus pandemic. NPR. October 2, 2020.Wang S, Lilienfeld SO, Rochat P.Schadenfreude deconstructed and reconstructed: A tripartite motivational model.New Ideas Psychol. 2019;52:1-11. doi:10.1016/j.newideapsych.2018.09.002Cikara M, Fiske ST.Their pain, our pleasure: stereotype content and schadenfreude.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2013;1299:52-59. doi:10.1111/nyas.12179Merriam-Webster.Schadenfreude.Kuipers G.Schadenfreude and social life: a comparative perspective on the expression and regulation of mirth at the expense of others. In: Ouwerkerk JW, van Dijk WW, eds.Schadenfreude: Understanding Pleasure at the Misfortune of Others. Cambridge University Press; 2014:259-274. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139084246.022Shamay-Tsoory SG, Ahronberg-Kirschenbaum D, Bauminger-Zviely N.There is no joy like malicious joy: schadenfreude in young children.PLoS One. 2014;9(7):e100233. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0100233Jankowski KF, Takahashi H.Cognitive neuroscience social emotions.Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2014;68: 319-336. doi:10.1111/pcn.12182Watt Smith T.Schadenfreude: The Joy of Another’s Misfortune. New York: Little, Brown; 2018.Bergagna E, Tartaglia S.Self-esteem, social comparison, and Facebook use.Eur J Psychol. 2018;14(4):831-845. doi:10.5964/ejop.v14i4.1592Crysel LC, Webster GD.Schadenfreude and the spread of political misfortune.PLoS One. 2018;13(9):e0201754. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0201754Takahashi H, Kato M, Matsuura M, Mobbs D, Suhara T, Okubo Y.When your gain is my pain and your pain is my gain: Neural correlates of envy and schadenfreude.Science. 2009;323(5916)937-939. doi:10.1126/science.1165604Chester DS, DeWall CN.The pleasure of revenge: retaliatory aggression arises from a neural imbalance toward reward.Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2016;11(7):1173-1182. doi:10.1093/scan/nsv082Crockett MJ, Siegel JZ, Kurth-Nelson Z, et al.Dissociable effects of serotonin and dopamine on the valuation of harm in moral decision making.Curr Biol. 2015;25(14):1852-1859. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.05.021Williams A, O’Driscoll K, Moore C.The influence of empathic concern on prosocial behavior in children.Front Psychol. 2014;5:425. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00425Schmuck D.Does digital detox work? Exploring the role of digital detox applications for problematic smartphone use and well-being of young adults using multigroup analysis.Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2020;23(8):526-532. doi:10.1089/cyber.2019.0578Kyeong S, Kim J, Kim DJ, Kim HE, Kim J-J.Effects of gratitude meditation on neural network functional connectivity and brain-heart coupling.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):5058. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05520-9Nesi J, Prinstein MJ.Using social media for social comparison and feedback-seeking: gender and popularity moderate associations with depressive symptoms.J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2015;43(8):1427-1438. doi:10.1007/s10802-015-0020-0

17 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Summers J.Timeline: How Trump has downplayed the coronavirus pandemic. NPR. October 2, 2020.Wang S, Lilienfeld SO, Rochat P.Schadenfreude deconstructed and reconstructed: A tripartite motivational model.New Ideas Psychol. 2019;52:1-11. doi:10.1016/j.newideapsych.2018.09.002Cikara M, Fiske ST.Their pain, our pleasure: stereotype content and schadenfreude.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2013;1299:52-59. doi:10.1111/nyas.12179Merriam-Webster.Schadenfreude.Kuipers G.Schadenfreude and social life: a comparative perspective on the expression and regulation of mirth at the expense of others. In: Ouwerkerk JW, van Dijk WW, eds.Schadenfreude: Understanding Pleasure at the Misfortune of Others. Cambridge University Press; 2014:259-274. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139084246.022Shamay-Tsoory SG, Ahronberg-Kirschenbaum D, Bauminger-Zviely N.There is no joy like malicious joy: schadenfreude in young children.PLoS One. 2014;9(7):e100233. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0100233Jankowski KF, Takahashi H.Cognitive neuroscience social emotions.Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2014;68: 319-336. doi:10.1111/pcn.12182Watt Smith T.Schadenfreude: The Joy of Another’s Misfortune. New York: Little, Brown; 2018.Bergagna E, Tartaglia S.Self-esteem, social comparison, and Facebook use.Eur J Psychol. 2018;14(4):831-845. doi:10.5964/ejop.v14i4.1592Crysel LC, Webster GD.Schadenfreude and the spread of political misfortune.PLoS One. 2018;13(9):e0201754. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0201754Takahashi H, Kato M, Matsuura M, Mobbs D, Suhara T, Okubo Y.When your gain is my pain and your pain is my gain: Neural correlates of envy and schadenfreude.Science. 2009;323(5916)937-939. doi:10.1126/science.1165604Chester DS, DeWall CN.The pleasure of revenge: retaliatory aggression arises from a neural imbalance toward reward.Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2016;11(7):1173-1182. doi:10.1093/scan/nsv082Crockett MJ, Siegel JZ, Kurth-Nelson Z, et al.Dissociable effects of serotonin and dopamine on the valuation of harm in moral decision making.Curr Biol. 2015;25(14):1852-1859. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.05.021Williams A, O’Driscoll K, Moore C.The influence of empathic concern on prosocial behavior in children.Front Psychol. 2014;5:425. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00425Schmuck D.Does digital detox work? Exploring the role of digital detox applications for problematic smartphone use and well-being of young adults using multigroup analysis.Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2020;23(8):526-532. doi:10.1089/cyber.2019.0578Kyeong S, Kim J, Kim DJ, Kim HE, Kim J-J.Effects of gratitude meditation on neural network functional connectivity and brain-heart coupling.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):5058. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05520-9Nesi J, Prinstein MJ.Using social media for social comparison and feedback-seeking: gender and popularity moderate associations with depressive symptoms.J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2015;43(8):1427-1438. doi:10.1007/s10802-015-0020-0

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Summers J.Timeline: How Trump has downplayed the coronavirus pandemic. NPR. October 2, 2020.Wang S, Lilienfeld SO, Rochat P.Schadenfreude deconstructed and reconstructed: A tripartite motivational model.New Ideas Psychol. 2019;52:1-11. doi:10.1016/j.newideapsych.2018.09.002Cikara M, Fiske ST.Their pain, our pleasure: stereotype content and schadenfreude.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2013;1299:52-59. doi:10.1111/nyas.12179Merriam-Webster.Schadenfreude.Kuipers G.Schadenfreude and social life: a comparative perspective on the expression and regulation of mirth at the expense of others. In: Ouwerkerk JW, van Dijk WW, eds.Schadenfreude: Understanding Pleasure at the Misfortune of Others. Cambridge University Press; 2014:259-274. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139084246.022Shamay-Tsoory SG, Ahronberg-Kirschenbaum D, Bauminger-Zviely N.There is no joy like malicious joy: schadenfreude in young children.PLoS One. 2014;9(7):e100233. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0100233Jankowski KF, Takahashi H.Cognitive neuroscience social emotions.Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2014;68: 319-336. doi:10.1111/pcn.12182Watt Smith T.Schadenfreude: The Joy of Another’s Misfortune. New York: Little, Brown; 2018.Bergagna E, Tartaglia S.Self-esteem, social comparison, and Facebook use.Eur J Psychol. 2018;14(4):831-845. doi:10.5964/ejop.v14i4.1592Crysel LC, Webster GD.Schadenfreude and the spread of political misfortune.PLoS One. 2018;13(9):e0201754. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0201754Takahashi H, Kato M, Matsuura M, Mobbs D, Suhara T, Okubo Y.When your gain is my pain and your pain is my gain: Neural correlates of envy and schadenfreude.Science. 2009;323(5916)937-939. doi:10.1126/science.1165604Chester DS, DeWall CN.The pleasure of revenge: retaliatory aggression arises from a neural imbalance toward reward.Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2016;11(7):1173-1182. doi:10.1093/scan/nsv082Crockett MJ, Siegel JZ, Kurth-Nelson Z, et al.Dissociable effects of serotonin and dopamine on the valuation of harm in moral decision making.Curr Biol. 2015;25(14):1852-1859. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.05.021Williams A, O’Driscoll K, Moore C.The influence of empathic concern on prosocial behavior in children.Front Psychol. 2014;5:425. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00425Schmuck D.Does digital detox work? Exploring the role of digital detox applications for problematic smartphone use and well-being of young adults using multigroup analysis.Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2020;23(8):526-532. doi:10.1089/cyber.2019.0578Kyeong S, Kim J, Kim DJ, Kim HE, Kim J-J.Effects of gratitude meditation on neural network functional connectivity and brain-heart coupling.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):5058. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05520-9Nesi J, Prinstein MJ.Using social media for social comparison and feedback-seeking: gender and popularity moderate associations with depressive symptoms.J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2015;43(8):1427-1438. doi:10.1007/s10802-015-0020-0

Summers J.Timeline: How Trump has downplayed the coronavirus pandemic. NPR. October 2, 2020.

Wang S, Lilienfeld SO, Rochat P.Schadenfreude deconstructed and reconstructed: A tripartite motivational model.New Ideas Psychol. 2019;52:1-11. doi:10.1016/j.newideapsych.2018.09.002

Cikara M, Fiske ST.Their pain, our pleasure: stereotype content and schadenfreude.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2013;1299:52-59. doi:10.1111/nyas.12179

Merriam-Webster.Schadenfreude.

Kuipers G.Schadenfreude and social life: a comparative perspective on the expression and regulation of mirth at the expense of others. In: Ouwerkerk JW, van Dijk WW, eds.Schadenfreude: Understanding Pleasure at the Misfortune of Others. Cambridge University Press; 2014:259-274. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139084246.022

Shamay-Tsoory SG, Ahronberg-Kirschenbaum D, Bauminger-Zviely N.There is no joy like malicious joy: schadenfreude in young children.PLoS One. 2014;9(7):e100233. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0100233

Jankowski KF, Takahashi H.Cognitive neuroscience social emotions.Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2014;68: 319-336. doi:10.1111/pcn.12182

Watt Smith T.Schadenfreude: The Joy of Another’s Misfortune. New York: Little, Brown; 2018.

Bergagna E, Tartaglia S.Self-esteem, social comparison, and Facebook use.Eur J Psychol. 2018;14(4):831-845. doi:10.5964/ejop.v14i4.1592

Crysel LC, Webster GD.Schadenfreude and the spread of political misfortune.PLoS One. 2018;13(9):e0201754. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0201754

Takahashi H, Kato M, Matsuura M, Mobbs D, Suhara T, Okubo Y.When your gain is my pain and your pain is my gain: Neural correlates of envy and schadenfreude.Science. 2009;323(5916)937-939. doi:10.1126/science.1165604

Chester DS, DeWall CN.The pleasure of revenge: retaliatory aggression arises from a neural imbalance toward reward.Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2016;11(7):1173-1182. doi:10.1093/scan/nsv082

Crockett MJ, Siegel JZ, Kurth-Nelson Z, et al.Dissociable effects of serotonin and dopamine on the valuation of harm in moral decision making.Curr Biol. 2015;25(14):1852-1859. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.05.021

Williams A, O’Driscoll K, Moore C.The influence of empathic concern on prosocial behavior in children.Front Psychol. 2014;5:425. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00425

Schmuck D.Does digital detox work? Exploring the role of digital detox applications for problematic smartphone use and well-being of young adults using multigroup analysis.Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2020;23(8):526-532. doi:10.1089/cyber.2019.0578

Kyeong S, Kim J, Kim DJ, Kim HE, Kim J-J.Effects of gratitude meditation on neural network functional connectivity and brain-heart coupling.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):5058. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05520-9

Nesi J, Prinstein MJ.Using social media for social comparison and feedback-seeking: gender and popularity moderate associations with depressive symptoms.J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2015;43(8):1427-1438. doi:10.1007/s10802-015-0020-0

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