I have taught college psychology courses on critical thinking, and recently wrote about the variables that prompt people to commit to a position, and remain consistent in their opinion even as evidence mounts contradicting their position. Today, my focus is on why some people seem to experience satisfaction at another person’s expense? Or, why some people will endure having things taken from them (i.e. possessions, status, liberties, etc) so long as the other people they don’t like suffer, too. We commonly see this kind of behavior when talking politics, and it is quite mystifying to see people accept losing important things, but seemingly not minding as long as their perceived enemies are also feeling some kind of pain. What is the psychology behind this irrational behavior? And how should we employ critical thinking in order to experience better future outcomes?
Important theories
When attempting to better understand why some people seem to relish watching others experience misfortune, we need to examine theories from psychology and sociology that focus on envy, resentment, and human nature.
- Schadenfreude (pleasure in others’ misfortune). Research suggests that schadenfreude occurs when people feel threatened, envious, or wronged. Seeing others suffer, therefore, restores a sense of fairness.
- Relative Deprivation Theory. This theory posits that people judge their well-being not by absolute gains, but by comparisons to others. If a person doesn’t see a way to pull himself up, pulling someone else down levels the playing field.
- Zero-Sum Thinking. Some people think success and happiness are finite resources, and they perceive that if another group has gained power then it must come at their expense.
- Psychological Resistance. Some people prioritize punishing perceived enemies over maintaining their own freedoms.
- Moral Disengagement & Dehumanization. When people see their opponents as morally corrupt, undeserving, or less than human, they feel justified in celebrating their suffering.
- The Just-World Hypothesis. People want to believe the world is fair, and if they see someone they dislike succeed or avoid consequences, it feels like an injustice.
As you might imagine, this kind of thinking is exploited in politics to maintain division and resentment, rather than focusing on collective progress. The best ways to push back include empathy, critical thinking, and mutually-benefiting policies, but as you can see these irrational ways of interpreting the world are often deep-seated, emotionally charged, and reinforced by other like minds.
Final thoughts
Yes, it is both confusing and frustrating to witness someone take joy in another person’s suffering, but important psychology and sociology theories can help us better understand why these things happen. We live in a world of constant comparisons, and when our views of others are skewed, it can leave us in a place of resenting others who appear to be getting a better shake in life. While these feelings are understandable, it is even more important that we develop active listening skills, empathy, and critical thinking so that we can employ logic and problem-solving skills, rather than perpetuating hate, division, and putting down others.
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