Appreciation of achievement and a behavioural preference to view failure (Schadenfreude online): Poorer decision makers prefer that high achievers fail

Appreciation of achievement and a behavioural preference to view failure: Schadenfreude online. James G.Phillips, C. Erik Landhuis, Jay Wood. Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 172, April 2021, 110597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110597

Highlights

• Tall Poppy Scale used to assessed appreciation of high achievers.

• Poorer decision makers prefer that high achievers fail.

• Interest/pleasure in others' failures (Schadenfreude) shown behaviorally online.

• Group membership predicts Reality TV voting preferences.

Abstract: The Tall Poppy Scale was used to examine individual differences in: 1) the appreciation of high achievers; 2) associated online behaviours. A sample of 165 New Zealand Europeans completed a decisional self-esteem scale and the Favour Reward and Favour Fall scales. Participants were then offered a debrief screen providing information about achievements or failures, and their interactions with the debrief screen were tracked. Participants with lower decisional self-esteem preferred that high achievers failed. Those expressing an interest in the failure of high achievers spent more time and clicked more on the debrief screen. Schadenfreude – interest (or pleasure) in the misfortune of others - was demonstrated behaviourally online.