Open Search
Open Navigation

How Do We Teach People Not to Enjoy Others' Pain?

Alliant International University
Alliant
Alliant International University
Published 04/17/2014
2 minutes read
The content of this page is only for informational purposes and is not intended, expressly or by implication, as a guarantee of employment or salary, which vary based on many factors including but not limited to education, credentials, and experience. Alliant International University explicitly makes no representations or guarantees about the accuracy of the information provided by any prospective employer or any other website. Salary information available on the internet may not reflect the typical experience of Alliant graduates. Alliant does not guarantee that any graduate will be placed with a particular employer or in any specific employment position.

In her review of Richard H. Smith's The Joy of Pain: Schadenfreude and the Dark Side of Human Nature, Tanya Telfair LeBlanc notes how we like to look at car accidents, watch TV programs that show others' pain (e.g., Maury), and read the grocery store tabloids.

Assuming that these behaviors are undesirable, what could psychologists do to teach people, especially young people, to not take such delight in others' pain? Perhaps these efforts would even be a first step toward increasing prosocial behavior (or at least decreasing more negative or aggressive behavior). What stakeholders should be involved—churches, schools, private groups (e.g., Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts), family members, etc.? Who knows—maybe success would even decrease the popularity and number of reality shows.

 

Read the Review

Keeping It Real: Unmasking Evidence of Delight in Others’ Misfortune
By Tanya Telfair LeBlanc
PsycCRITIQUES, 2014 Vol 59(14)

You might also like

Back to Blog
Learn More
Paige Cole

Alumni Spotlight: Q&A with Paige Cole

Alumni Spotlight: Q&A with Paige Cole California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University MA Marriage...

Learn More
Reese-Abbene

Alumni Spotlight: Q&A with Reese Abbene

Alumni Spotlight: Q&A with Reese Abbene California School of Education at Alliant International University MAE in School...

Learn More
Sugey Gomez

Student Career Spotlight: Sugey Gomez

Becoming a…Psychologist Sugey Gomez PsyD in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student CSPP at Alliant International University Q: What...

Request Information

  • 1
    Current Select Interests
  • 2
    Provide Information