Schadenfreude In Reality TV

Schadenfreude is a German word translated as 'shameful joy', or literally as 'harm-joy'.

Psychologists have separated feelings of Schadenfreude as being aggression-based, rivalry-based, and justice-based. It is essentially finding pleasure in the misfortune of others.

Here I briefly explain how Schadenfreude is utilised by reality TV to different extents.


The Birth Of A Nation (1915), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Red Dawn (1984), Die Hard (1988), You've Been Framed (1990 – Current), Bridezillas (2004 - Current), Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (2004-2014), My Super Sweet Sixteen (2005-2017), Dragon's Den (2005 – Current), Kitchen Nightmares (2007-2014), Real Housewives Of Beverley Hills (2010 – Current), The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011), Headhunters (2011), Blue Ruin (2013)

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