The annoying colleague that is for some reason really popular, and seemingly everything in the lap, makes a serious mistake, but the Only thing is what do you feel satisfaction.As well as compassion Schadenfreude is part of human emotions. It is closely associated with envy, as Japanese researchers found in a study: Is the other Person in something in which you failed yourself, are we jealous. But fails to that Person something Important, we are happy about it – but that is already everything?

envy and antipathy

Our Schadenfreude is not only envy – to feel a personal dislike to someone, the Schadenfreude is all the greater. I am about the failure of my colleagues, not just because he is more successful than I, but also because I can’t stand him. But why we are so gloated over the misfortune of another – especially if we have Use of it no obvious?Here, psychological and social factors play an important role: Schadenfreude social-regulating, since a would-be high-Flyer is brought back to the ground. In the result, it strengthens our self-confidence, because for us the unlucky feel superior. And reduces, in turn, forced the own Success.

How Schadenfreude is rooted in fact, in our society, we see regularly in television, cabaret, theatre and carnival events. Whether Stefan Raab, Gerhard Polt and Herbert Bonewitz – the misadventures of politicians, Celebrities and other all to amuse her audience by really neat by the cocoa.

The reward center as the origin

scientists can measure gloating: Pleased to be at the misfortunes of others, increases the brain activity in the reward center, by professionals as the Nucleus accumbens is referred to. Here is the origin of the euphoric sensations that are triggered by cocaine, Sex or gambling is. The human receives a reward, the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is responsible for the feeling of happiness. The dopamine stimulates centers in the brain to behavior, Motivation, and learning ability responsible.An American research group found that men feel more Schadenfreude than women, just as it would in younger people compared to older people, such as you published in the journal of the American Psychological Association. Why this is so, could not answer the Americans, however.

This article was written by Franziska Oeler

*The post “Why do we feel Schadenfreude?” published by world of wonders. Contact with the executives here.

world of wonders