men's brains feel good when a disliked person feels pain - 01/18/06 10:18 PM
NEW YORK Do you feel others' pain? Or do you instead feel good when someone gets the punishment he deserves?
A study says it depends on whether you're a man or a woman.
The brain-scanning study says men somewhat enjoy seeing a cheater get a mild electric shock -- as opposed to women, who empathize with the pain.
Both men and women showed empathy for the "fair" player in the exercise.
A questionnaire revealed men had more desire for revenge against the cheater than women did.
Researchers say it's unclear whether basic biology or sex roles that people have learned in life are responsible for the difference in schadenfreude (SHAHD'-ehn-froy-duh) -- the enjoyment of another's misfortune.
The researchers are at the University College London. The study is in the journal Nature.
Source
A study says it depends on whether you're a man or a woman.
The brain-scanning study says men somewhat enjoy seeing a cheater get a mild electric shock -- as opposed to women, who empathize with the pain.
Both men and women showed empathy for the "fair" player in the exercise.
A questionnaire revealed men had more desire for revenge against the cheater than women did.
Researchers say it's unclear whether basic biology or sex roles that people have learned in life are responsible for the difference in schadenfreude (SHAHD'-ehn-froy-duh) -- the enjoyment of another's misfortune.
The researchers are at the University College London. The study is in the journal Nature.
Source