Schadenfreude: enjoying the misfortune of others

Schadenfreude, the experience of pleasure at the misfortune of others, is a very common emotion. It may seem mean-spirited, vindictive even, but if you have ever felt guilt about the satisfaction you experienced when someone else messed up, don’t be too hard on yourself. 

Schadenfreude is the result of several deeply ingrained processes that the human brain spent millions of years evolving.