Lange, Jens ORCID: 0000-0002-5375-3247 and Boecker, Lea (2019). Schadenfreude as Social-Functional Dominance Regulator. Emotion, 19 (3). S. 489 - 503. WASHINGTON: AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC. ISSN 1931-1516

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Abstract

Schadenfreude follows from misfortunes happening to other individuals. It is therefore an essentially social emotion. However, previous research has mainly explored its intrapersonal functions. Complementing these findings, we propose a social-functional approach to schadenfreude. Seven studies (total N = 2,362) support that (a) schadenfreude is a reaction to a misfortune befalling an initially dominance-displaying individual and (b) the public expression of schadenfreude downregulates the dominance of the other person. Specifically, schadenfreude toward initially successful persons was intensified when they displayed dominance (i.e., hubristic pride or general dominance) instead of prestige (i.e., authentic pride or general prestige) or other displays (i.e., embarrassment) following their achievement (Studies 1 to 3). This effect was mediated via inferiors' malicious envy (Study 4). The public expression of schadenfreude then reduced the perceived dominance of the initially successful person compared with private expressions of schadenfreude and awkward silence (Studies 5 and 6). This dominance reduction further had downstream consequences for the superior person (Study 7). The findings underline the social functioning of schadenfreude and provide avenues for research on schadenfreude at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intergroup level.

Item Type: Journal Article
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCIDORCID Put Code
Lange, JensUNSPECIFIEDorcid.org/0000-0002-5375-3247UNSPECIFIED
Boecker, LeaUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
URN: urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-152983
DOI: 10.1037/emo0000454
Journal or Publication Title: Emotion
Volume: 19
Number: 3
Page Range: S. 489 - 503
Date: 2019
Publisher: AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC
Place of Publication: WASHINGTON
ISSN: 1931-1516
Language: English
Faculty: Unspecified
Divisions: Unspecified
Subjects: no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:
KeywordsLanguage
NARCISSISTIC ADMIRATION; SELF-EVALUATION; ENVY; PRIDE; EMOTIONS; PLEASURE; EXPRESSION; PRESTIGE; BENIGN; DIFFERENTIATIONMultiple languages
Psychology, ExperimentalMultiple languages
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/15298

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