The Dark Triad Traits, Humor Styles, and Schadenfreude: Others' Misery as the Devil's Laughing Stocks

This research investigated the relationships of the Dark Triad traits, humor styles, and schadenfreude with 169 participants who completed the Short Dark Triad, the Humor Style Questionnaire, and a measure of schadenfreude. Significant correlations imply that those with salient dark traits (psychopathy, Machiavellianism, narcissism) elicit pleasure from others' misfortune. Additionally, schadenfreude can be a product of self-defeating and aggressive humor styles. Indirect effect analysis revealed the significance of the indirect effect of the measured aggressive humor style on the Dark Triad's direct effects on schadenfreude. These results imply that those with salient Dark Triad traits enjoy others' misery as a means to undermine them. Hence, individuals with salient Dark Triad traits tend to engage in downward social comparison.

Automated summary

This research examines the relationships between the Dark Triad traits, humor styles, and schadenfreude. The results suggest that individuals with prominent dark traits derive pleasure from others' misfortune, and aggressive humor styles may contribute to this schadenfreude.