HELPING BEHAVIOR IN TERMS OF SCHADENFREUDE, SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-THREAT

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the links between schadenfreude, sympathy and self-esteem in terms of helping behavior. Sample consists of 179 female and 56 male undergraduates (M age=20.21). Self-comparison and the actor’s responsibility from the misfortune are manipulated by different scenarios. Participants are randomly assigned to 4 different groups; high achiever high responsibility, high achiever low responsibility, low achiever high responsibility, low achiever low responsibility. Helping behavior is measured with a question which is related to responsibility scenario. Results show that decison of help is predicted by schadenfreude and sympathy significantly. There are several differences between those who choose to help the actor and who don’t in terms of schadenfreude, sympathy. Correlations show that there are several relationships between self-esteem, self-comparison, schadenfreude and sympathy but there are no significant relationship between amount of help and the other measures. Results of the study are discussed within the light of literature.

Keywords

• Benlik saygısı, yardım etme davranışı, schadenfreude