Although most of us are uncomfortable admitting it, we often feel Schadenfreude, that is, pleasure in the misfortunes of others, because we can directly or indirectly benefit from that misfortune.
In Schadenfreude. The joy of other people's evil, Richard H. Smith delves into the mechanisms that underlie this pleasure for the displeasure of others, as well as all the ramifications that emerge from that feeling. A book that, although perhaps monothematic, is punctuated with curious stories and everyday examples (or from series and movies, especially The Simpsons).
They/Us
The book is one of the best I have read in 2020, I have to admit. And it is also very easy to read and opens the doors to many reflections, such as the current polarization and political partisanship, that is, the exacerbation of tribalism, of Them VS Us.
As an example, a button: the entries that have been inspired by fragments of the book:
- The simple presence of a vegetarian can inhibit an omnivore
- Mr. Clean and Mr. Dirty: how our self-esteem depends on the type of person we compete with
Schadenfreude is a German word that designates the feeling of joy or satisfaction generated by the suffering, unhappiness or humiliation of another. The term in Spanish translates as gloat either gloating, defined by the RAE as Taking malicious pleasure in a mishap, trouble, etc., that happens to another person.
Schadenfreude: The joy of another's evil: and the dark side of human nature (The pocket book – Social sciences)
"Schadenfreude: The joy of another's evil" sheds light on one of the most widespread and least recognized emotions in our society, namely, the secret (or expressed) satisfaction or joy that we experience when seeing someone powerful fall, someone sink. person, company or institution towards whom we have animosity, or assisting the misfortune of someone whom we judge unfairly well treated by fortune. Richard H. Smith, professor of Psychology at the University of Kentucky and one of the leading specialists in "bad" or "dark" emotions, such as envy, mixes popular culture (such as well-known television series), daily life, history, etc. , with a rigorous scientific approach, to make us see, however disturbing it may sometimes be, that there is no "bad" and "good" in an absolute sense, but rather that at the level of our psyche everything is related and has a powerful reason for being. .
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The news
Books that inspire us: 'Schadenfreude. Happiness for Other People's Evil' by Richard H. Smith
was originally published in
Xataka Science
by
Sergio Parra
.