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Why We Secretly Smile When Others Fail


Still Waters

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When the office slacker makes a mistake that could cost them a pay raise — do you truly feel bad, or do you have to work to hide your smile?

If you smiled, you've just experienced schadenfreude, a bit of enjoyment at the misfortunes of others.And now researchers know more about why we experience this seemingly odd emotion. Turns out, it can be a sure way to make you feel better about yourself. It's a self-affirming boost.

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Well, if a person brought the failure upon themself due to personal laziness or bad behaviour, then I'd probably smirk a bit. However, I feel no joy when I see others fail due to no fault of their own.

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Well, if a person brought the failure upon themself due to personal laziness or bad behaviour, then I'd probably smirk a bit. However, I feel no joy when I see others fail due to no fault of their own.

I agree

If I see a good person get run over by a truck I'm deeply moved by their ordeal and feel for them.

However if I see an evil person get run over a truck I see it as karma and laugh.

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Well, if a person brought the failure upon themself due to personal laziness or bad behaviour, then I'd probably smirk a bit. However, I feel no joy when I see others fail due to no fault of their own.

I agree too. There's a difference between taking enjoyment of someone getting their just desserts, and taking enjoyment from a persons misfortune.

Personally, I don't think I take much pleasure in just desserts, more of a exasperation of "Well, what did you expect would happen?". I might smile about it, but it's more of a ironic smile rather than a happy, I feel better about myself smile.

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Did you see the photo they had of the 'office slacker'? She could slack all she likes and it wouldn't bother me.

Would you feel the same way if a super handsome male employee was allowed to slack all he likes?

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Would you feel the same way if a super handsome male employee was allowed to slack all he likes?

No I wouldn't. Not at all, lol. But you see, that's just human nature.

And I think really the article was just trying to put a positive spin on the fact that people - whether we like it or not - have a slightly sadistic side that we dont want to admit exists.

Just call a spade a spade I say Lilly.

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