Adolescents’ Narratives of Schadenfreude

Abstract

This study explored the experiential determinants of schadenfreude, how schadenfreude changes as a function of relationship, and how recollections of schadenfreude may vary by age. Using a narrative approach, 12‐ and 15‐year‐olds (N = 60) described times they felt schadenfreude toward various peers and adults. We coded their responses to extract information regarding preceding misfortunes and underlying reasons for schadenfreude. We found that adolescents' schadenfreude often involved another’s physical harm and failure, and was rooted in reasons of deservingness and personal gain. There were unique trends in the types of misfortunes and reasons mentioned toward each target of interest. Finally, deservingness reasoning was prominent within 15‐year‐olds’ schadenfreude experiences. The findings are discussed in relation to adolescents’ emotional experiences in conflict situations.

Moral Development in Adolescence

“…For example, schadenfreude, which may be considered a counterpart to sympathy and compassion, involves taking pleasure in another’s distress or misfortune and has recently been investigated in youth. Schadenfreude is often motivated by competition and self‐interest (Peplak et al., 2020) and has been found to decrease prosocial responding in childhood and early adolescence (Schindler et al., 2015; Steinbeis & Singer, 2013).…”

The effect of ethics and moral education on the levels of schadenfreude experienced by students

“…People may display a variety of emotional reactions to events that happen to others, such as admiration, anger, sympathy, disappointment or schadenfreude, depending on the circumstances and the outcome (Feather, 2008). Schadenfreude is a German word and it is a compound of Schaden , meaning harm, and Freude , meaning joy (Peplak et al, 2020). Schadenfreude is a word that means to take pleasure in another person's failure (Heider, 1958 cited in van Dijk et al, 2006).…”

“…For this reason, it can be stated that there is a need to determine the factors that may prevent the emergence of schadenfreude. Because previous research has focused on why schadenfreude occurs, how it develops and its consequences (Peplak et al, 2020), no research has been conducted on how to prevent this emotion. Since this study on the effect of ethics and moral education on schadenfreude was carried out as a response to this need, it can fill an important gap in the literature.…”

“…This emotion is called schadenfreude, which is defined as pleasure at the misfortunes of others (Heider, 1958 cited in van Dijk et al, 2006). Schadenfreude is an emotion commonly experienced by many people every day (Peplak et al, 2020). Moreover, it is argued that people may try to put others in a difficult situation with disinformation via social media and that more and more people take pleasure in the failures of others (Smith, 2018).…”