Schadenfreude Test
When someone I consider a rival has misfortune, I feel a private sense of satisfaction.
Watching a person with an inflated ego stumble gives me genuine enjoyment.
If someone who outperformed me later fails, I experience quiet contentment.
Seeing a discourteous driver who endangered me get pulled over would fill me with joy.
I find it deeply satisfying when someone who bullies others faces public accountability.
Humor or content that shows celebrities being humbled genuinely amuses me.
I do not find entertainment in watching videos of people's humiliating errors.
I cannot suppress laughter when an overly confident individual's plan falls apart.
When a deceptive person's falsehoods are revealed, it feels like universal fairness.
I feel uncomfortable witnessing someone who is clearly experiencing shame.
If a person is discovered cheating, I believe they are receiving appropriate consequences.
I take pleasure in observing reality television personalities experience failure.
Discovering that the most socially dominant students from my school didn't succeed as adults brings me enjoyment.
I chuckle when a bothersome coworker receives a public reprimand.
Learning that an influencer fabricated their credentials brings me delight.
15 questions remaining
What You Should Know
The study of schadenfreude is based on social comparison theory, which was developed by psychologist Leon Festinger in the 1950s. This theory posits that individuals assess themselves by comparing their attributes to those of others.
- People feel schadenfreude to different degrees, even though it is an emotion. Consequently, certain studies regard it as a characteristic.
- Experiencing spiteful enjoyment may be associated with feelings of personal inadequacy; envy transforms into schadenfreude when witnessing the failures of successful individuals.
- The English language has happily taken in this German word. "Schaden" means "damage," and "freude" means "joy." People often feel schadenfreude in politics and sports. People are happy to spread explosive news about scandals that can hurt the reputation of the other side.
- Individuals exhibiting elevated dark triad traits may derive increased satisfaction from the misfortunes of others, and such individuals also partake in a higher frequency of antisocial behaviours.
Make a difference now
- Your self-worth: You might feel less valuable if you feel schadenfreude. Knowing what your core values are and living by them can give you a sense of purpose and make you feel better about yourself.
- Get over your jealousy: the only person you should compare yourself to is yourself. Do your best, keep track of your progress, and give yourself credit for your hard work.
- Say thank you: Saying thank you and feeling thankful can make your relationships stronger and make you feel better.
