El efecto del merecimiento sobre la intensidad de "schadenfreude" en situaciones de envidiaun estudio evolutivo

  1. Laura Quintanilla 1
  2. Patricia Recio 1
  1. 1 Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
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    Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02msb5n36

    Geographic location of the organization Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
Journal:
Journal for the Study of Education and Development, Infancia y Aprendizaje

ISSN: 0210-3702,  1578-4126

Year of publication: 2019

Volume: 42

Issue: 2

Pages: 392-409

Type: Article

DOI: 10.1080/02103702.2019.1578924 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR

More publications in: Journal for the Study of Education and Development, Infancia y Aprendizaje

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Abstract

Objectives: envy is a negative social emotion that stems from a social comparison. This study explores the effect of deservingness on the intensity of schadenfreude (pleasure in another’s misfortune) in situations of invidious comparison. Method: the participants, 181 children between the ages of three and 10, were asked to describe what an envious character felt when the character (s/he) envied had lost an (deserved or undeserved) advantage. They were also asked to explain their answers. Results: the findings showed that schadenfreude was more intense when the lost advantage was undeserved than deserved only in young children. The difference between conditions decreased with age. The children’s explanations of schadenfreude were based on the damage to the envied person, whereas the responses of pity were justified by the misfortune and equitable ending (no one wins) of the story. Conclusions: the discussion addresses some of the possible factors, such as the acquisition of display rules, deservingness and perception of equality, that contribute to children’s understanding of emotions such as envy and schadenfreude.

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Data source: Dialnet