The Psychology of Skadefryd: Why We Sometimes Enjoy Others’ Misfortune

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By Tina Bjarnskov, Senior Psychologist, Ph.D.

I still remember the moment vividly – and cringingly.

In a team meeting a colleague I’d always found a little too smug was explaining (with great authority) how according to Eysenck “introverts have lower dopamine levels, which is why they avoid people.” He said it like it was textbook, end of discussion.

But before the group could nod along, someone quietly pushed their glasses up and said, “Actually, it’s more about sensitivity to stimulation than dopamine levels per se – Eysenck’s theory was updated quite a while ago.”

Boom.

The colleague paused. You could almost hear his brain buffering. He muttered something about “newer papers,” then changed the subject.

And there it was: that tiny inner spark of satisfaction. I didn’t say anything, didn’t gloat, but internally? I felt it.

And then, a second wave – embarrassment. Why did that feel so good?

Turns out, I wasn’t alone. Nor was I uniquely wicked. Psychology has a name for this experience, and a few good reasons for why it shows up in moments just like this.

There’s a peculiar Danish word that captures this awkward emotional cocktail perfectly: skadefryd – the pleasure we sometimes feel at someone else’s misfortune.

While the concept might seem mean-spirited at first glance, psychology offers a more nuanced understanding. Could there be something good about this guilty pleasure? Let’s dig into the brain and behavior behind skadefryd.

What Is Skadefryd, Really?

Literally translating to “harm-joy,” skadefryd isn’t about actively causing harm – it’s about reacting to someone else’s setbacks, failures, or embarrassments. Whether it’s watching a rival trip up, a celebrity scandal unfold, or the boss get caught in a mistake, the feeling often arrives uninvited, but potent.

Psychologically, skadefryd often emerges from social comparison, status dynamics, and even justice sensitivity. It’s more likely to show up when:

  • The person who failed is seen as arrogant or powerful
  • We feel envy or rivalry toward them
  • Their misfortune feels like a form of moral or poetic justice

So while it may feel petty, it’s not always random. Our brains are wired to monitor hierarchies, fairness, and group belonging – and skadefryd is sometimes just a quirky byproduct of that wiring.

The Science Behind the Smirk

Neuroscientific studies show that areas of the brain associated with reward (like the ventral striatum) light up when people experience skadefryd. That’s right: our brains can respond to someone else’s fall from grace in the same way they respond to chocolate or winning a prize.

Research has shown that:

  • Envy activates areas related to pain (anterior cingulate cortex)
  • Skadefryd activates areas related to pleasure (ventral striatum)

In other words, we not only suffer when others succeed – we sometimes enjoy when they fail.

Is There Anything Good About Skadefryd?

Surprisingly, yes. While we shouldn’t go around celebrating others’ pain, skadefryd can serve a few subtle psychological functions:

1. Social Bonding

Think of people giggling over a blooper reel or gossiping about an arrogant CEO’s downfall. Skadefryd can reinforce group identity –  “us” laughing at “them.” In moderate doses, it brings people together through shared emotion, especially when directed at a common outgroup or authority figure.

2. Emotional Release

Skadefryd offers a kind of pressure valve. If you’ve been dealing with feelings of inferiority, powerlessness, or envy, seeing someone stumble – especially someone you view as higher status – can provide fleeting relief. It’s not ideal, but it’s deeply human.

3. Moral Reinforcement

When someone behaves badly and then gets their comeuppance, our enjoyment of that outcome can reflect our internal moral compass at work. In that sense, justice-based skadefryd may even encourage ethical behavior by reinforcing cultural norms of fairness.

4. Self-Reflection

Being aware of your own skadefryd can be a tool for introspection. Who are you envious of? What do their setbacks make you feel? Sometimes the emotion points toward our own unacknowledged insecurities, giving us a chance to grow.

When Skadefryd Becomes a Problem

Of course, there’s a line. Rejoicing in someone’s pain can lead to dehumanization, bullying, or an erosion of empathy. When it becomes habitual or extreme – especially if it includes a desire to see others hurt – it can indicate deeper psychological issues like narcissism or aggression.

The goal isn’t to eliminate skadefryd (that might be impossible) but to understand and manage it. Ask yourself:

  • Why am I feeling this?
  • Is it about envy? Injustice? Insecurity?
  • Can I use this moment to reflect instead of just react?

Bottom Line: A Shadow with a Silver Lining

Skadefryd isn’t our most noble instinct, but it’s not inherently evil, either. Like jealousy or anger, it’s a natural emotional reaction – one that can reveal things about our values, desires, and frustrations.

In the end, recognizing our own skadefryd isn’t about shame – it’s about self-awareness. And with that awareness comes the power to grow, laugh a little at ourselves, and maybe even root for others, rather than against them.

References

  • Takahashi, H., Kato, M., Matsuura, M., Mobbs, D., Suhara, T., & Okubo, Y. (2009). When your gain is my pain and your pain is my gain: Neural correlates of envy and Schadenfreude. Science, 323(5916), 937–939. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1165604
  • Dvash, J., Gilam, G., Ben-Ze’ev, A., Hendler, T., & Shamay-Tsoory, S. G. (2010). The envious brain: The neural basis of social comparison. Human Brain Mapping, 31(11), 1741–1750. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.20974
  • Smith, R. H., Powell, C. A. J., Combs, D. J. Y., & Schurtz, D. R. (2009). Exploring the when and why of Schadenfreude. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 3(4), 530–546. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00181.x