{"product_id":"joy-of-pain-schadenfreude-and-the-dark-side-of-human-nature-9780199734542","title":"Joy of Pain: Schadenfreude and the Dark Side of Human Nature","description":"Few people will easily admit to taking pleasure in the misfortunes of others. But who doesn't enjoy it when an arrogant but untalented contestant is humiliated on \u003cem\u003eAmerican Idol, \u003c\/em\u003e or when the embarrassing vice of a self-righteous politician is exposed, or even when an envied friend suffers a\u003cbr\u003esmall setback? The truth is that joy in someone else's pain-known by the German word \u003cem\u003eschadenfreude\u003c\/em\u003e--permeates our society. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Joy of Pain, \u003c\/em\u003e psychologist Richard Smith, one of the world's foremost authorities on envy and shame, sheds much light on a feeling we dare not admit. Smith argues that \u003cem\u003eschadenfreude\u003c\/em\u003e is a natural human emotion, one worth taking a closer look at, as it reveals much about who we are as human\u003cbr\u003ebeings. We have a passion for justice. Sometimes, \u003cem\u003eschadenfreude\u003c\/em\u003e can feel like getting one's revenge, when the suffering person has previously harmed us. But most of us are also motivated to feel good about ourselves, Smith notes, and look for ways to maintain a positive sense of self. One common\u003cbr\u003eway to do this is to compare ourselves to others and find areas where we are better. Similarly, the downfall of others--especially when they have seemed superior to us--can lead to a boost in our self-esteem, a lessening of feelings of inferiority. This is often at the root of \u003cem\u003eschadenfreude.\u003c\/em\u003e As the\u003cbr\u003eauthor points out, most instances of \u003cem\u003eschadenfreude\u003c\/em\u003e are harmless, on par with the pleasures of light gossip. Yet we must also be mindful that envy can motivate, without full awareness, the engineering of the misfortune we delight in. And envy-induced aggression can take us into dark territory\u003cbr\u003eindeed, as Smith shows as he examines the role of envy and \u003cem\u003eschadenfreude\u003c\/em\u003e in the Nazi persecution of the Jews. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFilled with engaging examples of schadenfreude, from popular reality shows to the Duke-Kentucky basketball rivalry, \u003cem\u003eThe Joy of Pain\u003c\/em\u003e provides an intriguing glimpse into a hidden corner of the human psyche.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/31\/2013\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780199734542\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 256\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.04lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.51h x 6.37w x 0.89d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/27\/2013\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 08\/01\/2013 pg. 110\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChronicle of Higher Education\u003c\/i\u003e 08\/02\/2013 pg. 16\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Richard H. Smith","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42353011032245,"sku":"9780199734542","price":31.44,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_7bd36070-3415-4355-b0a1-1c790a41b7a9.jpg?v=1661842306","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/joy-of-pain-schadenfreude-and-the-dark-side-of-human-nature-9780199734542","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}