Exploring schadenfreude from the perspectives of deservingness and terror management theories.

IF 1.8 3区心理学 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL

Journal of Social Psychology Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-07-26 DOI:10.1080/00224545.2025.2538228

Bağdat Deniz Kaynak, Derya Hasdağ

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Abstract

One of the most important characteristics of the human species is its tendency to collaborate with others and help them in times of adversity. However, some individuals may experience pleasure from the negative events that happen to others, known as schadenfreude. This study investigates schadenfreude within the frameworks of deservingness and terror management theories. An experimental study utilizing a 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial design was conducted with 247 participants (150 females, 97 males), and they were randomly assigned to four conditions. Participants' schadenfreude levels were measured through vignettes following deservingness and mortality salience manipulations. Findings indicated that participants felt more schadenfreude toward individuals who achieved success undeservedly (low deservingness) than those who achieved it deservedly (high deservingness). However, there was no significant main effect of mortality salience nor significant interaction effects. The results suggest that deservingness is a crucial variable for understanding schadenfreude, while mortality salience does not show a significant effect.

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从应得和恐惧管理理论的角度探讨幸灾乐祸。

人类最重要的特征之一是在逆境中倾向于与他人合作并帮助他们。然而，有些人可能会从发生在别人身上的负面事件中获得快乐，这被称为幸灾乐祸。本研究在应得和恐惧管理理论的框架内研究幸灾乐祸。采用2 × 2受试者间因子设计对247名受试者（150名女性，97名男性）进行了一项实验研究，他们被随机分配到四种情况。参与者的幸灾乐祸程度是通过对应得性和死亡率显著性操作后的小插曲来测量的。研究结果表明，参与者对那些不应该获得成功（低应得性）的人比那些应该获得成功（高应得性）的人更感到幸灾乐祸。然而，死亡率显著性没有显著的主效应，也没有显著的交互效应。结果表明，应得性是理解幸灾乐祸的关键变量，而死亡率显著性没有表现出显著的影响。

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来源期刊

Journal of Social Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL-

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Since John Dewey and Carl Murchison founded it in 1929, The Journal of Social Psychology has published original empirical research in all areas of basic and applied social psychology. Most articles report laboratory or field research in core areas of social and organizational psychology including the self, attribution theory, attitudes, social influence, consumer behavior, decision making, groups and teams, sterotypes and discrimination, interpersonal attraction, prosocial behavior, aggression, organizational behavior, leadership, and cross-cultural studies. Academic experts review all articles to ensure that they meet high standards.