Why do we laugh at the misfortune of others?

Question

I was at the gym today and a guy in front of me fell over on the treadmill. Now I realise that he may have hurt himself, but I still laughed as did a few others. Why? Are we just sick and twisted?

Answer 1

becuse misfortune scares us deep down, which makes us {imediatly}, nervous, which , in turn, makes us laugh... Its called; a KNEE-JERK reaction....hows that 4 an answer?

Answer 2

I have wondered the same question and I have never been a fan of slapstick comedy either. Somebody getting hurt is not my idea of entertainment, however my father loved it. He would laugh at all the places that I would feel the actor's "pain". Odd isn't it. Also the "Funniest Home videos" show has people obviously hurting themselves in falls and mishaps and many people love to watch it and laugh at the "victims". There must be something in people that releases a sense of relief perhaps that the victim is someone else, not ourselves. But again I do not believe that is humourous. Good question.

Answer 3

What you are referring to is known as "Schadenfreude", which comes from the German for "pleasure taken from someone else's misfortune." While it does not seem nice, some believe it to be "written into our software" as a kind of natural stress-buster. When we see someone else's misfortune, it somehow reinforces our own goals or our own attention to detail to avoid such mishaps.

Remember, you live in a society which makes TV shows that capture Schadenfreude in action and award amateur photographers $100,000 for the best example of it.

Answer 4

Because everyone thinks we are better than everyone else... And when we find error in another person, such as falling over on the treadmill.. It gives us more confidence that we are better.

But put yourself in the guys shoes. Think how horrible it was to of fallin in the first place. And then to have people laugh at you. I think you should tell him your sorry. Make his day a bit lighter. You never know you might like him.

Answer 5

YES YES WE ARE.

I realized this when something similar happened. And I came to grips with the fact that I have a very sick and twisted sense of humor,
But it's okay, because I even laugh at myself when injured.

RAISE YOUR LOTUS CROSS IN DA AIR
WOOP WOOP

Answer 6

We laugh at others people misfortune because it didn't happen to us. You get a safe feeling from the fact that you did not experience it and then laugh to proclaim your safeness.

Answer 7

Because , to some, it "looks" funny to see some of the contortions people can get themselves into when falling, tripping, stumbling, etc.

I think it's an immediate reaction for some to what they see vs. how we may feel about the person and his/her possibly injury.

I personally scream out loud when I see someone fall - it may be better to laugh.

Answer 8

I think we laugh at these incidents precisely because they are so opposite from what we would expect. We are surprised deeply by what we see and it triggers a laugh response. It is important we maintain a sense of humor as much as possible.

Answer 9

if we can't laugh at these minor embarrassments and in turn feel sad or sorry about them, then the world will become an even gloomier place than it already is. I think it's ok to laugh about these things as long as its alright for others to laugh at you/me for the same reasons.

Answer 10

Frankly we are sick and twisted,
We can also see ourselves in that position and realize its better to laugh than to cry.
Would you really have laughed if the person was hurt?