Why do some people like to see other people fail?

Seeing others fail can evoke a range of emotions in different people. For some, witnessing failure may inspire empathy, concern or a desire to help. But for others, observing failure prompts feelings of schadenfreude – pleasure at another’s misfortune. Where does this impulse come from, and what drives certain individuals to take satisfaction in others’ defeats?

Table of Contents

The Psychology Behind Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude is a complex phenomenon, arising from multiple psychological factors. Here are some of the key drivers:

Envy – If someone has something we want but lack, we may feel hostile towards them and enjoy seeing them taken down a notch.
Insecurity – By observing others’ failures, we may feel better about our own inadequacies and shortcomings.
Justice – If we perceive someone as arrogant or unjustly successful, their failure may seem like their comeuppance.

Comparison – Feeling superior to those who fail can provide a self-esteem boost.
Sadism – For some, simply the act of causing distress to others produces pleasure.
Dehumanization – It’s easier to take joy in the failure of those we see as somehow lesser or undeserving of compassion.

Certain personality traits also predict increased schadenfreude, including high aggression, low agreeableness and extroversion, and low empathy. On the other hand, those with high self-esteem are less prone to take pleasure in others’ misfortunes.

When Is Schadenfreude Most Likely?

Though schadenfreude can occur in many contexts, researchers have identified particular situations that tend to evoke it:

Envied targets – People who inspire envy due to wealth, success or prestige are prime candidates for schadenfreude when they fall.

Arrogance – The downfall of people seen as arrogant, narcissistic or haughty is apt to elicit satisfaction.
Outgroups – People may take pleasure in the failure of those from disliked outgroups, like rival sports teams or nationalities.
Unethical behavior – Evidence of others’ unprincipled, illegal or immoral actions can inspire schadenfreude when they face consequences.

Rejection – Being rejected can prompt pleasure at seeing the person who rejected you experience misfortune.

Schadenfreude increases when multiple factors above converge – for example, observing a smug, wealthy politician from an opposing party get embroiled in a scandal.

Gender Differences

Research indicates some gender differences in schadenfreude:

Men report greater schadenfreude than women overall.
Men are more likely to feel schadenfreude towards envied, high-status targets.
Women’s schadenfreude may be more influenced by interpersonal relationships and perceptions of fairness.

These distinctions likely reflect tendencies toward interpersonal sensitivity and agreeableness among women versus competitiveness among men.

Is Schadenfreude Universal?

Schadenfreude appears common across cultures, suggesting it is a universal human trait. However, cultural values shape how it manifests:

Individualistic cultures like the US encourage competition, so outperforming others can inspire schadenfreude when they fail.

Collectivist cultures like Japan emphasize interdependence and harmony, which may temper schadenfreude.
High power distance cultures like China are more accepting of status and hierarchy, resulting in less resentment toward top performers.

But while cultural influences matter, most evidence indicates schadenfreude occurs across ethnicities and nationalities.

Personality Traits Associated with Schadenfreude

Here are some personality traits linked to increased schadenfreude:

Personality Trait	Explanation
Narcissism	Narcissists feel superior to others, so others’ misfortunes confirm this sense of grandiosity.
Psychopathy	Lack of empathy leads psychopaths to take pleasure in causing harm to or observing suffering in others.
Sadism	Sadists enjoy inflicting pain and humiliation on others, so are prone to schadenfreude.
Low agreeableness	Disagreeable people hold hostile views of others, fueling tendencies like schadenfreude.
Low self-esteem	Feelings of inferiority or insecurity can lead people to tear others down rather than improve themselves.

Those with dark personality traits like narcissism and sadism are most likely to indulge in schadenfreude when given the opportunity.

How Common Is Schadenfreude?

By some estimates, schadenfreude is fairly widespread:

One study found over 50% of subjects reported feeling schadenfreude at least once per week.
Around 1 in 4 people said they experienced schadenfreude several times per week.
Less than 20% claimed they rarely or never enjoyed others’ misfortunes.

At the same time, schadenfreude appears more prevalent among some demographic groups:

Men – As noted above, men seem more prone to schadenfreude, perhaps due to competitiveness.
Younger people – Older adults generally report less schadenfreude, possibly reflecting increased maturity and empathy.

Extroverts – Extroversion correlates with schadenfreude, likely because extroverts are more attuned to social comparisons.

So while many people admit to occasional schadenfreude, some personality types seem particularly susceptible.

Is Schadenfreude Healthy or Unhealthy?

Most psychologists view schadenfreude as generally unhealthy and counterproductive:

It signals hostile, insecure views of others and relationships.
Finding joy in others’ misfortune reflects poor empathy and morality.
It reinforces downward social comparison and dissatisfaction.

Schadenfreude could inspire sabotaging or undermining behaviors.
Indulging such spiteful urges could lead to a negative spiral.

That said, some evidence suggests carefully bounded schadenfreude may boost mood and self-image for some people. The key is limiting it to rare occasions so it does not consume one’s mindset.

Strategies to Overcome Schadenfreude

If you recognize unhealthy levels of schadenfreude in yourself, here are some strategies to reduce it:

Practice gratitude – Appreciating positives in your own life reduces resentment of others’ fortunes.
Increase empathy – Put yourself in others’ shoes to understand how failure must feel for them.

Find intrinsic motivation – Base your self-worth on internal goals rather than competing with others.
Forgive – Let go of grudges toward those who you feel have wronged you.
Limit social media use – Reduce consuming others’ carefully curatedhighlight reels.

Redirecting your mental energy toward appreciation, compassion and self-development can help overcome unhealthy schadenfreude over time.

Schadenfreude in the Media and Culture

Examples of schadenfreude abound in media and culture:

News coverage fixates on scandals and downfalls of celebrities and politicians.

Reality shows often highlight contestants’ failures and humiliations.
Social media “drama channels” focus on content creators’ controversies.
Gossip magazines take pleasure in covering messy breakups or arrests.

Some comedies like Curb Your Enthusiasm integrate schadenfreude into their humor.
The German word “schadenfreude” has become commonly used in English to describe the concept.

This reflects our collective fascination – for better or worse – with observing high-profile figures being taken down a notch when they falter.

History and Origins

Enjoying others’ misfortunes has been observed since ancient times:

Roman writers like Tacitus noted crowds’ “delight in humiliation” of defeated gladiators.
Philosophers including Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas condemn malicious enjoyment of other’s failures as the “sin of delight in another’s ills.”

The term “schadenfreude” first appears in German around the mid-19th century.
But the phenomenon seems to have existed across cultures for centuries.

Schadenfreude’s presence across eras and societies provides evidence of its deep roots in human nature, even if often unwanted.

Examples in Everyday Life

While schadenfreude toward public figures is most visible, plenty of everyday examples exist:

Feeling satisfied when a rude driver who cut you off gets pulled over.
Being glad your smart sibling failed a test for once.

Getting some smug satisfaction when your ex’s new relationship fails.
Being happy your colleague who always brags didn’t get the promotion.
Enjoying watching a arrogant opponent lose in sports or games.

These illustrate how schadenfreude often arises from common experiences like envy, jealousy, and interpersonal slights or rivalries.

Good-Natured Schadenfreude?

Most psychology condemns schadenfreude as malicious. But some philosophers argue there are more benign forms:

Epistemic – Satisfaction at having predictions about another’s failure confirmed.

Egalitarian – Gladness when an elitist person “gets their comeuppance” and is humbled.
Empathetic – Happiness for someone receiving consequences for hurtful actions.

In this view, certain types of schadenfreude arise from reasonable desires for justice and honesty, rather than pure spite. This remains philosophically debated.

Conclusion

Schadenfreude attracts and disturbs us because it reflects the darker parts of human nature. Feeling joy at the misfortune of envied, hated, or even random others comes naturally to some of us – perhaps more so than we’d like to admit. By recognizing our own propensity toward schadenfreude, we can gain awareness needed to counteract its harmful effects.