Why Do I Feel Joy or Relief When Bad Things Happen to Others?
Schadenfreude: Enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others. — Merriam-Webster
People are putting groceries on credit. Others are struggling with expensive medical bills; some are facing both simultaneously. Many live paycheck to paycheck, with systemic issues only adding to their daily struggles. If you haven't personally experienced these hardships, you likely know someone who has. The climate is ripe for frustration, which shows through the expressions of celebration—schadenfreude—over Brian Thompson's death, the CEO of United Healthcare.
Schadenfreude is a German word that describes the pleasure derived from another's misfortune and seems like an appropriate response from those experiencing the negative impacts of a health system that has failed us. Seeing someone at the top of the corporate ladder – in the health insurance industry, no less – fall victim to violence might feel like justice, even if that violence resulted in death. Trust in our institutions has eroded over the years. People feel unheard and uncared for as their health premiums increase, their insurers deny their claims, and healthcare gets further and further out of reach. Many might tell you it's inappropriate to feel satisfied or to feel indifferent to Mr. Thompson's death, but I'm here to tell you those are both feelings worth listening to, not to push down.
I face these feelings myself. As a healthcare provider, I have experienced my payment from insurance slashed. Insurance audits and pre-payment reviews are at an all-time high, demanding more time spent on paperwork to justify client care. As a healthcare consumer, I face a premium increase of nearly 25% for the same coverage. Meanwhile, United Healthcare sees record profits.
We must acknowledge that the death of anyone is a tragedy. No one deserves violence. However, because a large number of people feel that the shooting of the CEO delivered justice, we must examine our society's deeper frustrations and fears. In this case, schadenfreude isn't about celebrating harm; it's a reaction to feeling unheard and stuck in a system that continues to harm people.
Accepting schadenfreude does not endorse public execution or any violence. The action was disturbing, but the feelings that have emerged from it are not. As I tell my clients quite frequently, emotions are not disturbing; our reaction to them can be. What can we do when we feel powerless and continue to suffer? Every day, medical bills blindside people, or insurers deny coverage, leading many to believe that traditional methods will never address systemic injustices.
Many might argue that schadenfreude is inappropriate or that it's not a valid emotional response. But schadenfreude is a feeling, and rather than pushing it away, let's explore it—what is this, and why do I feel it? Schadenfreude relates to our "shadow self," a term introduced by Carl Jung, a psychologist, to describe parts of our unconscious personality that we suppress or deny. The emotions we feel ashamed of or uncomfortable acknowledging are buried deep within us. When unaware of them, they guide our actions - positively or negatively. Feelings of anger can motivate us to take meaningful action that leads to change. But by telling people their feelings are disturbing - that we shouldn't feel schadenfreude, we shut down any opportunity to reflect and push these feelings away for fear of alienation. We all want to avoid feeling alienated, which moves us to defend our stances - which is why arguments are becoming so heated, and our divide is worsening.
Let's reframe the definition of schadenfreude, replacing "enjoyment" with catharsis or relief. People experiencing schadenfreude feel closure to a problem that feels beyond their control. Let's focus on this reaction of schadenfreude, viewing it through the lens of a more significant societal breakdown in the systems meant to support us. People feel trapped in a system that refuses to change despite its harm. While we can reconsider the public sharing of dark memes, we must remember that civil discourse is necessary. Let's not say someone deserved to die, but give light to where the real anger comes from - that our country treats healthcare as a privilege, not a right, and this privilege is more and more only accessible by the rich.
Many people feel that large healthcare insurers are an unshakeable institution that will continue to profit while our government allows it to happen. How can we direct this schadenfreude? You can direct your dissatisfaction to your healthcare insurer. If this is an issue you care about, it is essential to elect officials who center healthcare reform in their platform, but it will take more than this; we must also hold them accountable. Contact your representatives about bills supporting the cause for improving healthcare, such as the Health over Wealth Act. Healthcare is a bipartisan issue, and people on both sides of the aisle are suffering. Contacting your state insurance commissioner is another great start and an avenue many overlook. Don't stop at Congress and your insurance commissioner; take your anger to your state assembly. States have successfully challenged insurers and penalized them for unjust and corrupt behavior.
Others may encourage you to suppress your schadenfreude, but I encourage you to embrace it. Too often, we react to harsh emotions by suppressing them to make ourselves more palatable, and we lose the momentum that comes from these powerful feelings.