Why do some take pleasure in watching people in pain?

Answer 1

Posting from a previous question I answered which was similar to this:

I believe this is a process of 'distancing' the pain the perpetrator feels,by having it be borne by someone else-- they suffer as much as they make the other person suffer for other deep psychological reasons,and because they cant deal with it, either because they have insufficient skills or simply cant remember the trauma,they "transfer" the problemto someone else, and therefore are under the impression that they themselves are no longer suffering. They have a sense of power due to that transference- they suddenly "are in control" of their suffering when otherwise they are not-- thus, they feelgreat satisfaction (pleasure) from that act.

Observers who have the same problem would further target the victim,also, the allure of power makes people want to join in. Fear also is a large motivation- they fear being the victimand instead can be the perpetrator and be 'safe' and "favored" for their ability to wield power....

Answer 2

i think it is all about the perception of the good world gotten twisted.

We all percieve the world as we do. Then no matter how justified the events of our lives turn out, we very often get the impression that we had not been treated justly.
That gives the desire to get even. Sometimes for the sake of getting even and sometimes for the sake of proving to ourselves that we are not the ones that can be treated unjustly - we seek the pain in our surrounding.

It is an unnatural behavior.

On the other hand we we can be just a bit too playful and enjoy our game. It happens when the cat plays with the dead mouse before eating it and when a well meaning man spanks his lady for excitement. Again it is just an over zealous act.

Answer 3

I think that people who truly take pleasure in watching people in honest pain and suffering are people who are not happy with their own lives. I'm not talking about the BDSM type of pain either because that's a whole seperate issue that comes with rules and other boundaries.

But those people who see other human beings struggling just to stay alive or having their world crash around them are deeply desturbed people. They are so unhappy with their lives that they must take enjoyment in the suffering of others. At least that's the only explanation I can come up with. The ironic thing is...the best way to make yourself feel better is to help those in need.

Answer 4

Excellent question,

To me, there is a very long and interesting tradition in the the Human psyche that is actually quite Darwinian inso much as seeing other people suffer makes us appriciate that we are not...

Survival of the fitest type thing, no what I mean. If we take the man-as-animal theory then seeing suffering might signify that we are higher up the food chain than the sufferer in terms of competition I suppose...

Answer 5

Some people are just extremely sadistic. Also, some people love thriving on others misery because they are so miserable themselves. It's a sad, sad world.

Answer 6

Because how people get to the pain stage is stupidly funny

Answer 7

I think it is something we learn at a young age, I mean how many of us have laughed when our child has ran into a wall while playing, or fallen off a bike in a funny way, so if we laugh at them, they in turn laugh at you and so forth and so on. just my opinion.

Answer 8

Just human nature..Nice legs by the way

Answer 9

wow nice legs and 2 points!

Answer 10

They are just crazy. Their brains are organized otherwise.