Schadenfreude as a mate‐value‐tracking mechanism

Bibliographic Data

ID18969009
AuthorsLeisha A Colyn (Bowling Green State University, corresponding author), Anne K Gordon (Bowling Green State University, corresponding author)
Year2013
Volume20
Issue3
Pages524-545
Publication date2013-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePersonal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1350-4126 • E-ISSN: 1475-6811
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1475-6811.2012.01422.x
OpenAlexW2057498211
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited40

This study proposed a new theoretical formulation of schadenfreude as a psychological mechanism that responds to misfortunes that lower competitors' mate value. In Study 1, participants reported schadenfreude in response to their friends' naturally occurring and hypothetical misfortunes. In Study 2, participants reported schadenfreude in response to an envied friend experiencing a hypothetical misfortune linked with female or male mate value. As predicted, females in both studies reported more schadenfreude when a same‐gender friend experienced a misfortune that lowered her physical attractiveness versus social status. Less consistent support was found for the prediction that males would report more schadenfreude when a same‐gender friend experienced a misfortune that lowered his social status versus physical attractiveness. This study suggests several directions for future research

Attractiveness · Developmental psychology · Misfortune · Physical attractiveness · Psychoanalysis · Statistics · Emotions and Moral Behavior · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub