Psychological Mechanisms of Schadenfreude and Its Implications for Moral Education

Purpose This study aims to analyse the psychological mechanisms underlying schadenfreude and explore their implications for moral education curricula. Method A literature review was conducted from social psychological, neuroscientific and developmental perspectives to identify the motivational factors of schadenfreude and to determine the implications for moral education. Results Research has identified aggression, justice, and envy as key motivational triggers of schadenfreude, which is significantly related to social comparison processes, brain reward systems, and early childhood social cognitive development. Conclusion To effectively mitigate students' tendency towards schadenfreude, moral education should systematically introduce structured and sustained programmes aimed at fostering empathy in schools. In addition, it is crucial to move away from competitive school cultures and instead promote community-oriented environments that emphasise cooperation and mutual respect.