Schadenfreude is a combination of two German words. Schaden means harm, and Freude means joy. Together Schadenfreude connotes taking pleasure in the misfortune of others. The media thrive on Schadenfreude. Swedish scholar Hans Rosling in his book Factfulness reminds us that media “rely on drama to grab your attention; that negative stories are more dramatic than positive ones…..” Likewise, individuals endlessly post negative videos on YouTube and facebook. The billions of views and likes for videos that display the misfortune of others confirms an infatuation with Schadenfreude across the globe.
The distinction between lightheartedly enjoying situational humor and engaging in more nefarious Schadenfreude can be blurry. A few summers ago, I was eating lunch with my wife, young son, and mother-in-law on the deck of the Harbor House in Seaport Village, San Diego. The deck afforded views of the harbor, with a small grassy park in the foreground. My son “accidently” dropped an occasional French fry for the persistent seagull near our table. With diners filling only one third of the tables, we pleasantly conversed as we sipped chilled drinks.
Suddenly, we heard shouting from the park. An unkempt, middle-aged man with long, tangled hair and a shaggy beard yelled at nobody in particular as he walked along a paved path in the park. He stopped at a bench, sat down quietly for a few seconds, and then sprung up, violently stabbing the air with his index finger as he shouted a profanity-laced tirade at someone visible only to him.
I quickly reached for my camera to film this spectacle, but the better angel of my nature–my wife–ordered me to set my camera down. The dining room grew uncomfortably silent as the serenity of lunch succumbed to the rage of this man in the park. Somebody needed to get us back on track! I stood up, overtly looked toward the man, and loudly questioned, “Dad?!?” The handful of diners erupted in laughter. A police officer soon arrived and calmed the man down.
The shouting man episode was simultaneously terrifying, sad, and hilarious. The episode was terrifying because the man’s language was so harsh, and he was so loud and animated that we wondered if he might hurt someone. The episode was sad because obviously there was something wrong with this man. He looked like a vagrant and perhaps he was on drugs or had a mental disorder or both. Maybe he was someone’s dad. He definitely was somebody’s son. He clearly needed help. The episode was hilarious because the juxtaposition of diners peacefully enjoying lunch on the harbor with a man unexpectedly and randomly shouting obscenities created a boomingly audible and strikingly visual contrast resulting in undeniable irony and situational comedy.
Was I engaging in Shadenfreude? The ultimate cause of the situational comedy was a man’s misfortune, that’s true. Had the shouting man not been so full of pain, the episode never would have occurred. However, the proximate cause of the situational comedy was the irony. My entertainment was not premised on the ultimate cause, only the proximate cause. Nevertheless, Schadenfreude was there, perniciously lurking in the background.
While accepting that Schadenfreude can stimulate intrigue or humor, I want it to be only a minimal part of my life. Schadenfreude is sort of like alcohol. It can be fun in small doses; however, overconsumption isn’t good for anyone. To guard against Schadenfreude, I have decided to bring Freudenfreude into my consciousness.
Freudenfreude is the opposite of Schadenfreude. Rather than taking pleasure in people’s misfortunes, Freudenfreude involves finding delight in people’s joy, blessings, and successes. With the deluge of negativity promulgated by media and by individuals posting on the internet, I am creating an umbrella to help shield me from the rain.
Plan of Action for the Next Thirty Days
For the next thirty days, I am going to read or watch at least three news items or internet posts that celebrate the good fortunes of others. I will consume one positive story in the morning to set the tone for the day. Then, midday, I’ll consume another positive story to recharge my batteries. Finally, in the evening before dinner, I’ll read or watch one more joyful story to ensure that Freudenfreude is top of mind as I sit down with my family at the table.
Here are some resources for GOOD NEWS that I have saved to my browser favorites for easy access. Maybe you’d like to cut and paste them into your browser and save them to your favorites. Moreover, I invite you to read or watch three uplifting stories a day for the next thirty days and to discover how that impacts your thoughts and actions!
- https://www.today.com/news/good-news
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/good-news
- https://www.usatoday.com/humankind/
P. Gustav Mueller, author of The Present: Gift this Moment
Relevant Links:
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong about the World and Why Things are Better Than You Think, by Hans Rosling with Ola Rosling and Anna Rosling Ronnlund.
Harbor House Restaurant, Seaport Village, San Diego, California
Laugh Three Times a Day!, by P. Gustav Mueller
Types of Comedy: Part Three – Situational Comedy, by Katherine Phelps
The Roots of Schadenfreude: Why We Take Pleasure in Other People’s Pain, U.S. News & World Report, by Stacey Colina