Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Self-esteem, self-affirmation, and schadenfreude.
Wilco W van Dijk1, Guido M van Koningsbruggen, Jaap W Ouwerkerk
1Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. dijkwvan@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|December 7, 2011
Summary
Low self-esteem individuals experience more schadenfreude towards high achievers due to self-threat, but self-affirmation can reduce this response. This suggests schadenfreude helps protect self-views.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Schadenfreude, the pleasure derived from another's misfortune, is a complex emotion.
- Self-esteem and self-threat are key factors influencing social comparison and emotional responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between self-esteem and schadenfreude towards high achievers.
- To examine the mediating role of self-threat and the moderating role of self-affirmation in this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted involving participants with varying levels of self-esteem.
- Participants were exposed to scenarios involving high achievers, with and without opportunities for self-affirmation.
Main Results:
- A negative relationship was found between self-esteem and schadenfreude towards high achievers.
- Self-threat mediated this relationship, and self-affirmation attenuated the effect for low self-esteem individuals.
Conclusions:
- The misfortunes of others can serve as a mechanism for self-protection and self-enhancement.
- Understanding the role of self-esteem and self-affirmation is crucial for comprehending schadenfreude.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Need for Self-Esteem
The human need for self-esteem has long intrigued psychologists, leading to the development of several theories that explore its evolutionary and functional significance. Among the most influential are the sociometer, hierometer, and terror management theories. Each offers a unique perspective on why people strive for self-worth and how it shapes behavior and social interaction.Sociometer TheoryAccording to sociometer theory, self-esteem functions as an internal gauge of social acceptance. It...
01:27Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
Social comparison plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of personal success and self-worth. Rather than assessing our achievements in isolation, we interpret their significance relative to personal goals and critically in comparison to the performance of others. A grade of B in a mathematics exam might elicit pride if one's expectation was a C, yet result in disappointment if an A was anticipated or if peers achieved superior results. These comparative evaluations illustrate how both...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:28Self-Esteem
Self-esteem, a core aspect of psychological well-being, reflects an individual's positive and negative self-evaluation in terms of worth, competence, and overall value. It is both a stable trait and a dynamic process, influenced by experiences and social interactions across the lifespan. While global self-esteem offers a general assessment, research highlights that self-esteem is multidimensional and varies across specific life domains.Domain-Specific Self-EsteemResearchers have delineated...
01:27Protecting Self-Esteem
Self-esteem, a central component of psychological well-being, is actively maintained through various cognitive and behavioral strategies. Individuals employ specific mechanisms to preserve a positive self-concept and mitigate threats to their self-worth, particularly in contexts involving social evaluation or personal feedback. Four primary techniques are commonly used to sustain self-esteem.Manipulating AppraisalsOne prominent strategy involves manipulating appraisals from others. Individuals...
02:08Trait and State Self-Esteem
The term self-esteem is often used generically, to refer to how people feel about themselves. However, according to research, there are three distinct constructs that should not be used interchangeably (Brown & Marshall, 2006).