Schadenfreude; a barely explored phenomenon that depicts that absolute worst of human nature, as we are shown from early years to find pleasure in the pain of others. The human need for validation brings out our desire to see other people fail, which in turn allows us to feel that we are better than them.
The basis of this emotional construct is the dehumanisation of the person experiencing pain; rather than eliciting empathy, their pain is seen as a tool for our own gain.
Psychologists at the Emory University comprise the types of schadenfreude into three separable but interchangeable subforms; “aggression, rivalry, and justice”.
Aggression-based schadenfreude derives from a sense of social identity, strengthening one's social place may result in aggression towards other.
Rivalry-based is rooted in personal competition, derived from a feeling of envy.
Justice-based is established from perceived fairness, and joy can come from feeling like justice is being served. For example, we find delight in the downfall of high-up people that have achieved their position through cheating or lying; a balance feels restored and this positively reinforces the feeling that what we do is right.
So should we, as humans, feel guilty for our joy in the pain of others? Whilst schadenfreude may be linked to the the tendency of psychopaths, the breadth of this mutual experience suggests that is inherently human.
Since ancient times, there have been divided opinions regarding whether it is malicious at the core, or if it is simply morally neutral (or to some extent virtuous due to the pursuit of equity).
What we must consider is that this may be deeply ingrained into the human psyche, and how this affects the way we interact with others; those that are above, equal, and arguably lesser than us.
