Showing papers on "Schadenfreude published in 2013"

Their pain, our pleasure: stereotype content and schadenfreude

Abstract: The capacity for empathy is one of the most important faculties that humans possess; it is a powerful motivator of pro-social behavior and cooperation, cornerstones of humanity's most cherished interpretations of sociality and responsibility (Batson, 2009; Keltner, 2009; Tomasello, 2009). Empathy is also, for better or for worse, bounded: people do not empathize with everyone all the time. Specifically, people often feel less empathy for out-group members—individuals who belong to groups of which the observer is not a part (Batson & Ahmad, 2009; Cosmides, Tooby and Kurzban, 2003; Davis, 1994; Hornstein, 1978). This intergroup empathy bias (Cikara, Bruneau & Saxe, 2011) matters because failures of empathy in response to the suffering of out-group members predict an absence of pro-social responding (Johnson, Simmons, Jordan, et al., 2002). And lack of empathy for out-groups can place them beyond the bounds of apparent ethical relevance. More recent research has started to explore another manifestation of intergroup empathy bias: counter-empathic responding. Instead of empathy or apathy, people sometimes feel pleasure – schadenfreude – in response to out-group members' pain. These counter-empathic responses may at best allow indifference to others' suffering, and at worst facilitate harm against them. In light of this, we ask: which groups are most likely to be targets of schadenfreude? Furthermore, how much exposure to or experience with an out-group do people need to experience schadenfreude in response to out-group members' misfortunes? Do the out-group members have to act in harmful ways, or are mere stereotypes sufficient? Here we review our research examining the antecedents and consequences of intergroup schadenfreude. First, we briefly review predictors of schadenfreude, with an emphasis on envy. Next, we discuss how these emotions manifest at the group level: which groups are the most likely to elicit envy and schadenfreude as well as potential consequences of these emotions for these groups. We summarize four experiments specifically examining the effect of stereotype content on participants' experiences of schadenfreude and willingness to harm out-group members. We conclude by highlighting implications of our results and future directions for research. Though previous studies have examined group-level schadenfreude, our research is the first to investigate whether stereotypes are sufficient to elicit pleasure in response to the misfortunes of high-status, competitive group members. More important, these are the first experiments to examine whether group-level schadenfreude is related to a tendency to harm those targets1

Integrating multiple perspectives on schadenfreude: The role of deservingness and emotions

Abstract: Schadenfreude, or pleasure in another person’s misfortune, has been linked to a cognitive appraisal that other deserves the misfortune. In the present study we develop a structural model that links schadenfreude to global self-esteem, pain of inferiority, hostile and benign envy, resentment, perceived deservingness, and sympathy. We also examine the effects of ingroup/outgroup membership on schadenfreude and test for the invariance of our structural model between these two conditions. Participants (n = 170) responded to a hypothetical scenario that manipulated ingroup/outgroup membership and perceived deservingness in relation to other’s initial success and subsequent failure. Results supported a structural model that showed invariance. They also showed that more schadenfreude was reported when the outgroup member failed and more sympathy and anger when the ingroup member failed. These results provide an integrated structural approach to the analysis of schadenfreude.

The Joy of Pain: Schadenfreude and the Dark Side of Human Nature

Abstract: Introduction Chapter 1 The Highs of Superiority Chapter 2 Looking Up by Looking Down Chapter 3 Others Must Fail Chapter 4 Self and Other Chapter 5 Deserved Misfortunes are Sweet Chapter 6 Justice Gets Personal Chapter 7 Humilitainment Chapter 8 There's Something about Envy Chapter 9 Envy Transmuted Chapter 10 Dark Pleasures Unleashed Chapter 11 How Would Lincoln Feel? Conclusion

Varieties of (de) humanization: divided by competition and status.

Abstract: Recognizing or denying another’s humanity varies predictably along apparently universal dimensions of the other’s perceived warmth (trustworthiness) and competence. New data reveal distinct neural and behavioral signatures of (de)humanizing responses to distinct kinds of ingroups and outgroups on these dimensions. The most dehumanized outgroups (low on both warmth and competence) elicit disgust and avoidance, devalued as literally worth-less. In contrast, groups disliked for seeming cold but respected for competence elicit envy and Schadenfreude. Reactions to pitied outgroups—disrespected for seeming incompetent, but apparently likable enough for seeming trustworthy and warm—focus on prescriptions for their behavior. The humanization of ingroup members, who are both liked and respected, reflects individuating processes in impression formation, not necessarily accurate but at least three-dimensionally human.

Schadenfreude Caused by the Exposure of Hypocrisy in Others

Abstract: Two studies examined whether and why seeing people suffer because of their hypocrisy can produce schadenfreude. Study 1 provided an initial demonstration of the phenomenon by showing that participants were indeed more pleased by learning that someone was caught for an immoral action when this person had criticized others for a similar action earlier. Study 2 showed that participants' schadenfreude was more intense when the immoral action matched precisely what the person had been criticizing others for doing earlier. Perceptions of hypocrisy consistently mediated the pattern of findings across the two studies. Perceptions of the deservingness of the misfortune and disgust over the hypocritical behavior also appeared to play mediational roles in explaining schadenfreude, though less consistently than perceptions of hypocrisy.

Daniel has fallen into a muddy puddle – Schadenfreude or sympathy?

Abstract: The present study investigated the experience of schadenfreude among children. Participants were 4- to 8-year-old children (n = 100) who were told stories of another child experiencing a misfortune while pursuing a morally positive versus morally negative goal. Schadenfreude, sympathy, and helping behaviour towards the suffering child were assessed. Results showed that beginning at the age of 4, emotional and behavioural reactions towards a misfortune of another child were predicted by the moral valence of the other child's goal. Furthermore, morally negative goals decreased helping behaviour and morally positive goals increased helping behaviour. Multilevel mediation analysis revealed that the relation between goal valence and helping behaviour was mediated by both schadenfreude and sympathy. However, those effects were especially pronounced in older children.

Schadenfreude and just world belief

Abstract: The present study tested the hypothesis that a threat of a just world belief intensifies experience of schadenfreude (i.e., pleasure at another's misfortune). The participants read scenarios which were designed to threaten or maintain their just world belief. Subsequently, they were transferred to an online magazine presenting funny stories about other peoples' failures. As presumed, the participants exposed to the threat of just world belief spent more time on reading. These results confirmed the existence of a link between just world threat and schadenfreude.

Schadenfreude as a mate-value-tracking mechanism

Abstract: This study proposed a new theoretical formulation of schadenfreude as a psychological mechanism that responds to misfortunes that lower competitors' mate value. In Study 1, participants reported schadenfreude in response to their friends' naturally occurring and hypothetical misfortunes. In Study 2, participants reported schadenfreude in response to an envied friend experiencing a hypothetical misfortune linked with female or male mate value. As predicted, females in both studies reported more schadenfreude when a same-gender friend experienced a misfortune that lowered her physical attractiveness versus social status. Less consistent support was found for the prediction that males would report more schadenfreude when a same-gender friend experienced a misfortune that lowered his social status versus physical attractiveness. This study suggests several directions for future research.

The impact of schadenfreude as an emotional frame in crisis communications on perception of corporate reputation

Abstract: This dissertation expands on the recent research focus on the role of stakeholder emotions in crisis communications. Using a 2x2 experimental design, this study explores the emotions of sadness and anger, as well as the concept of schadenfreude in relationship to stakeholders’ perceptions of corporate reputation. In addition to using the previously tested emotions of sadness and anger in this context, the concept of schadenfreude (the feeling of pleasure one experiences when a person or organization suffers a misfortune or set back) was re-introduced to the field to better assess its potential role in the crisis communication process, specifically its relationship with perceived corporate reputation. Additionally, both third-person effect and social identity theory were introduced to explore their presence, and potential application, in future crisis communications. While the stimulus materials were unsuccessful in creating significantly different emotions in the subjects, there was an indication that schadenfreude as a concept is present in crisis communication scenarios and that it may have a distinctly different effect on perceived reputation than its more negative counterparts of anger and sadness. The presence of a third-person effect, a previously under-studied concept in crisis communications, was found and social identity theory held true, predicting perceived reputation based on identification with one or another party/group. Finally, in an effort to control for demographic variables, gender was found to have had a mitigating effect on reputation.

Change in Envy as a Function of Target Likeability

Abstract: OF THESIS CHANGE IN ENVY AS A FUNCTION OF TARGET LIKEABILITY Envy is a painful emotion that can negatively impact one’s self-worth. It is also a shameful, socially undesirable emotion, implying both inferiority and hostility. Some scholars suggest that these features of envy lead to a need to cope with the emotion. Thus, over time, envy tends to be transformed into more socially acceptable responses such as resentment or dislike. The present study tested this claim. First, envy was manipulated by asking participants to read an article containing an interview with either a highor lowenvy target. The second article manipulated the likeability of the target by varying whether or not he or she made an arrogant statement. Finally, a third article indicated that the target had suffered a misfortune. Although, as predicted, envy decreased, the manipulation of likeability did not affect this decrease. Consistent with predictions, resentment increased after the second article and this was more likely when the target was dislikeable than when the target was likeable. Finally, the participants felt greater schadenfreude when the dislikeable target suffered than when the likeable target suffered and marginally more schadenfreude when the target was more enviable. Clearly, envy dissipated over time, but further research is needed to determine precisely why.