As the most advanced creatures on Earth, human beings are undoubtedly the most complex. We experience a vast range of emotions, many of which we still struggle to fully understand and it is not uncommon these days to seek help to fully comprehend the entire spectrum of human emotions. While we revel in the joys of our own triumphs and those of our loved ones, we also have a tendency to find a perverse satisfaction in the misfortunes of others. The Germans have even given this feeling a name-“schadenfreude”. Literally translating to “harm-joy,” schadenfreude refers to the feeling of happiness or pleasure derived from witnessing someone else’s failure or suffering. It occurs because we often experience a sense of satisfaction when someone else’s misfortune makes us feel better about ourselves, particularly if we envy them or perceive them as having an unfair advantage. This tendency is closely linked to social comparison – our innate desire to evaluate our own worth in relation to those around us. When we see someone else stumble, it can trigger a subconscious boost to our own self-esteem.
Across the great literary and religious traditions of the world, we are surrounded by stories and teachings that extol the virtues of morality, compassion, and the nobler aspects of the human spirit. However, we often shy away from directly addressing the darker, more unsettling elements of our psychological makeup. Friedrich Nietzsche argued that religious texts that discredit emotions like envy were actually an impediment to human progress, as envy can be one of the most powerful and pervasive driving forces in human life. Arthur Schopenhauer, the German philosopher somehow tried to rationalise envy by stating that, “To feel envy is human”; but cautioned us against Schadenfreude stating that it is “diabolic.” Schopenhauer viewed Schadenfreude as the worst trait in human nature. He believed it was closely related to cruelty and considered it a sign of moral bankruptcy. Freud considered Schadenfreude as a defence mechanism and suggested it could be a way for individuals to cope with their own feelings of inferiority or insecurity. This dilemma speaks to the inherent tension between our innate capacity for empathy and compassion, and our equally powerful propensity for jealousy, resentment, and a disturbing lack of concern for the suffering of our fellow human beings. While experiencing schadenfreude may be a common human impulse, it is a complex and often problematic emotion. At its core, it reveals the darker aspects of our psyche – the ugly emotions that we do not want to acknowledge.
A recent incident prompted me to reflect deeply on the complex nature of human emotions. During a widely publicized protest against administration of an academic institution, some acquaintances of mine reached out to inquire whether the demonstration was directed at a particular individual. When I informed them that the protest was not, in fact, targeting him, I detected a palpable sense of disappointment from them. I found myself wondering whether they had been secretly hoping for “good news” or “bad news” – in other words, whether they had been eagerly anticipating an opportunity to take pleasure in the perceived failure of this person. Indeed, when they learned that the protest was not aimed at the person they had hoped, I felt as though they had missed their chance to indulge in a sense of vindication. This raised several uncomfortable questions that we all need to answer to ourselves privately. While may pretend to sympathise with people in an unfortunate situation, are we really “sorry” for their loss?
As I was still grappling with the ghost of that thought, the following morning brought with it a sudden revelation. My son was getting ready to perform for his school play. As I watched my son excitedly zip up his hyena costume for school, a curious thought crossed my mind. Were we all, in some way, hiding behind the guise of human civility? Beneath the surface of our everyday interactions, did the spirit of a hyena lurk within us—eagerly watching and waiting for the moment where others falter, ready to pounce with that all-too-familiar, staccato laugh of mockery and malice? Grimly, the world in that moment seemed like a pack of depraved hyenas with our so-called humanity merely a fragile disguise. It made me wonder if, like my son, who transformed into a hyena, we all indeed were hyenas on the inside who donned our human skins to blend into a masquerade where instincts and intentions were hidden and if we wore our humanity just as a disguise? As I secured the final clasps of my son’s costume, I found myself contemplating the darker implications of the human condition – our capacity for self-deception, our proclivity for schadenfreude, and the fragility of the civility that binds us together as a society.
During the recent Dussehra celebrations, as the flames consumed the effigies of Raavan, a contemplative spark ignited within me wherein I found myself pondering whether our true conquest lies not in the external world, but in vanquishing the ten-headed demon that resides within our own psyche. With its multitude of faces, it breeds a noxious array of human failings: prejudice, hatred, bias, discrimination, exclusion, ignorance, intolerance, hostility, jealousy and most insidiously of all, Schadenfreude. Perhaps we all needed to burn the ten headed demon that resides within. As Diwali approaches, many of us engage in the annual tradition of “Diwali cleaning,” thoroughly tidying our homes. Even as I write this, I notice my neighbours applying a fresh coat of paint to their house, covering unsightly mouldy patches to reveal a smooth, pristine surface. In a way, we often treat ourselves similarly, concealing the parts we’re afraid to show the world. However, no matter how unattractive we may find our emotions, we cannot deny that they are an essential part of our mental makeup. Perhaps this Diwali, we should focus on an internal cleansing ritual. We need to introspect and release the dark emotions that slither within us like serpents. Instead, let’s ignite our inner lamps of love, compassion, empathy, and understanding.
