Why do we humans find it pleasurable to see others suffer?

Question

Its not that we find it pleasurable...have u ever noticed that when u see something happening on the street like a car crash of something u would immediatly run to see what happened? or like u love watching wrestling shows? why is that? is it just because of curiousity? or something else?

Answer 1

i personally do not like to see other people suffer, but i will forget when a co-worker told me" want to see these people smile tell them your bad news or unfortunate events and see their face light up" and sometimes its true. I guess if a person is miserable they like to see that they are not the only ones suffering. Its sad that there is people like that but its true. There is also a curiosity too not so much that they want to see but are interested in the problem....anyway hope this helps

Answer 2

I think I may be a bit of a coward. One day a few years back I heard car tires screech. I looked towards the direction of the sound. What I saw disturbed the hell out of me. I saw a car smash into a man. The sound was even more disturbing. My friends ran off to see what happened, I ran in the house to call the police. I did not venture to the corner to see what happened to the man. I did not want to see a mangled human being. All of my friends however had absolutely no problem with seeing the carnage and actually looked totally delighted with what was unfolding. I can't speak for everyone but I do know that I do not like to see other people hurt or suffering.

Answer 3

The examples that you have given demonstrates human curiosity and search for entertainment (in the case of wrestling). As you and I all know, we abhor human sufferings, we all long for a sense of belonging to share our fortune with others when they need it badly. You want examples? Here they are - Tsunami devastated Indonesia just about a year ago; Katrina in the US and people opening up their homes and purse for the victims.

On the other hand, the government will sometimes make it pleasureable to see others suffer - for example when the US government bombed Iraq, they sent these embedded journalists to capture the night sky lit up in fireworks! The governemnt dehumanized for its own purpose.

Answer 4

circumstances such as the accident you refer too can vary. Is someone already there to offer assistance? if so then stand back out of the way and gawk. I happened to be right at the scene when an accident happened. being the only one I did not think about standing to do nothing, I stopped my vehicle,grabbed cell phone called 911 gave instructions and severity of wreck and if anyone was unconscious whoever was at the other end of the phone was at the ready to give me instructions just after I arrived came the gawkers/rubber neckers who offered nothing but just watch the blood flow. I really do not know, perhaps of the legal issues/law suits that could arise keep people away. if anyone is in need of emergency assistance offer it if you are the first upon scene. You never know when you will need it.

Answer 5

for me i would run to see the car crash just to see if everyone was okay and what not, possibly help if i could... and i like watching wrestling (real wrestling) because i enjoy seeing people behave like animals. animal instinct takes over and people go immeadiatly into survival mode doing only what's necessary to better the situation. i wouldn't say it is pleasurable to see others suffer- i would think it is basically human curiosity and instinct to try to be important in those situations

Answer 6

Well, people at heart have a link to each other with feeling. When everyone united at the world trade center... Aside from that, I think, people like to see other suffer because deep down every one fails we are all humans. We want everyone to feel what it is like on "our" personal level of failure no matter the scenario. Some people are weird when they laugh at people getting shot in the head or something.

Answer 7

Schadenfreude is a German word meaning "pleasure taken from someone else's misfortune." It derives from Schaden (damage, harm) and Freude (joy). In German, the word always carries a negative connotation.

This is a result of an out of control Yatzer ra (evil inclination). It has a deep psychological implication that one is elevated by someone elses degradation..

Answer 8

Nietzsche would say that pleasure isn't really the issue here. Rather, in watching others suffer, we feel a sense of power.

Obviously, that answer needs more development to be convincing.

Answer 9

Why is that? Is it just because of curiosity? Or something else?

(Jam 3:6) And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
When we speak a word or do and action it is of our thoughts that we follow. The thought comes from the heart deep within our very Physicy. It is what we have been taught years over and passed on to our off spring. Many of us do not remember the small things said to us over and over again until it becomes apart of us and our very way of thinking. In some ways the heart enjoys the misery of another because it is what we were taught as a small child and it stuck in there.
(Job 34:21) For his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
(Pro 5:21) For the ways of man [are] before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
(2Ch 6:30) Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)
(Pro 14:12 ) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
(Jer 17:10) I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.
(Isa 55:8) For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts,
neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
(Ecc 12:13) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for
this [is] the whole [duty] of man.

Answer 10

Because when one person suffers and the other doesn't, the person who isn't suffering feels they have power or authority over the one who is suffering, and people can't ever get enough of feeling higher up than others.