The term for someone who enjoys seeing others suffer is schadenfreude. It's a German word that literally translates to "harm-joy," and it describes the feeling of pleasure derived from witnessing another person's misfortune.
Schadenfreude can manifest in various ways, such as:
- Smiling or laughing at someone's misfortune.
- Taking pleasure in someone's failure or humiliation.
- Spreading gossip or rumors that cause harm to others.
- Feeling a sense of satisfaction when someone else experiences pain or suffering.
While it's normal to feel a fleeting sense of satisfaction when someone who has wronged us suffers, schadenfreude becomes problematic when it's a recurring or dominant emotion. It can be a sign of underlying issues like envy, resentment, or a lack of empathy.
Examples of Schadenfreude:
- A coworker feeling happy when another coworker gets fired.
- A fan enjoying a rival team's loss.
- A person taking pleasure in a celebrity's public downfall.
It's important to note that schadenfreude is not the same as gloating or celebrating someone's misfortune. Gloating involves taking pleasure in one's own success, while schadenfreude involves deriving pleasure from another person's suffering.
