Freudenfreude meaning

Given that the two are opposite concepts, one tends to show up in the other's absence.

Congratulating your colleague on a promotion; celebrating your friend's engagement, or even, enjoying your sister's IG holiday pics when you're sat on the sofa You've probably heard that empathy — rather than the prickle of jealousy when yet another sunset scape takes hold of your screen — is a good trait to possess. But science is suggesting that finding joy in someone else's fortune doesn't just make you a better person; it has a tangible impact on your own mental health too. The term being used to describe it? Derived from the German word for 'joy', the term 'freudenfreude' — the antithesis of 'schadenfreude'; taking pleasure from someone's misfortune — describes being happy for someone else's joy or success.

Freudenfreude meaning

We can all probably admit to feeling a little bit of schadenfreude at times, that handy German word for feeling at least a little bit good about someone else's misfortune. It's what we often feel when the bad guy gets his due at the end of a movie. Many people around the globe have experienced some difficult years recently, to put it mildly. It seems that in response, people are looking for ways to find and share more joy instead of feeling happy about someone else feeling sad. Some researchers are calling this new feeling freudenfreude pronounced "froy-din-froy-da". The German word freude means joy, though the word freudenfreude isn't actually a German word. It's a brand-new made-up word — a neologism — created to mean the opposite of schadenfreude. So what is the opposite of schadenfreude? It's positive empathy, or the ability to feel someone else's positive emotions as if they were your own. A small study published in August in the journal Psychological Science showed that this kind of empathy can make people kinder, more resilient and more satisfied with their lives. It can also motivate people to cooperate even if an argument arises. Emily Anhalt, a clinical psychologist and cofounder of the mental health app Coa, told The New York Times that schadenfreude can be an "ego protector. But studies have found that too much of a schadenfreude thing can make people less empathetic and compassionate toward others.

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Freudenfreude meaning

Given that the two are opposite concepts, one tends to show up in the other's absence. According to research, a great way to pinpoint someone as fitting into more of the freudenfreude framework as opposed to schadenfreude is to look for signs of empathy , a trait that psychotherapist Aimee Daramus, PsyD , says is key to maintaining healthy relationships. That is, people who can empathetically feel your wins are likely to help you feel even better about them. But how, exactly, does freudenfreude lead to deepening a relationship? It has to do with providing healthy support in positive times just as much as in trying times, says Dr. Think about it: The very notion of "leaning on a friend for support in times of need" implies that support is largely only needed when things are tough.

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She pointed to an anecdote from her own life as an example. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support. Intentionally setting the goal is the best starting point. Chinese English to Simplified. SolStock via Getty Images. Get the latest news and gain access to exclusive updates and offers Sign me up. Teaching Resources. Tips to practice it yourself Don't overcomplicate it Like all pursuits of wellness, it's all too easy to fall into the trap of overcomplicating a simple activity. French to English. Tell people that you love them, that you are proud of them. It can often originate from a sense of inferiority or from a sense of fear; from a feeling of powerlessness and lack of control; and it can be based on the feeling that we deserve what the other person has. Word Lists. First off, it's important to note that the term is still in its infancy; it's not a scientific construct nor has it been verified.

Posted March 4, Reviewed by Davia Sills.

Mandarin Chinese images. Browse Grammar. We can all probably admit to feeling a little bit of schadenfreude at times, that handy German word for feeling at least a little bit good about someone else's misfortune. Sign up for our Newsletter! B They found treasure hidden among the rocks. Thematic word lists. Remember: You benefit from this, too. One main component to keep in mind is that no success is too small. It's all about intention setting. Other submissions from this user. When getting what you want doesn't make you happy. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters.