The impact of deservingness on schadenfreude and sympathy: further evidence

J Soc Psychol. 2009 Jun;149(3):390-2. doi: 10.3200/SOCP.149.3.390-392.

Abstract

The authors tested the hypothesis that people experience less schadenfreude and more sympathy toward high achievers with deserved achievements who suffer misfortunes as opposed to those with undeserved achievements. The results support the hypothesis and show that this effect is mediated by the perceived deservingness of the misfortune.

MeSH terms

  • Achievement*
  • Adolescent
  • Attitude*
  • Culture*
  • Empathy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Jealousy
  • Male
  • Social Values
  • Students / psychology
  • Young Adult