Schadenfreude: A Conceptual Review

Individuals can exhibit different reactions in the face of others' misfortunes. These reactions sometimes manifest as sharing in the sadness, while at other times, they can manifest as a hidden or overt form of joy. Schadenfreude, a term of German origin, is an emotional expression primarily corresponding to reactions of the second type. Schadenfreude denotes the inner satisfaction or joy felt in response to someone else's failure, misfortune, or pain. In this manuscript, the concept of "malicious joy” is identified as the Turkish equivalent of schadenfreude and is used interchangeably throughout the manuscript. The sensation of malicious joy is a complex phenomenon that affects individuals' internal psychological processes and external expressions, and its exploration can contribute to the literature. Therefore, the main objective of this manuscript is to provide both theoretical and practical perspectives on malicious joy, contributing to the existing knowledge in the field. The manuscript focuses on the definition of malicious joy, its causes, relevant psychosocial factors, and its effects on mental health. Malicious joy arises from three main reasons: justice-based, comparison-based, and intergroup phenomena, namely rejoicing in someone else's sorrow. Emotional and social factors such as lack of empathy, jealousy, competitiveness, and social comparison are discussed for their role in the emergence of malicious joy. Additionally, studies on malicious joy and measurement tools used in its assessment are examined. Finally, the necessity for further research on malicious joy is emphasized.