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Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? The idea that there are people around who enjoy the failings of others, who are amused when another fails, seems somehow wrong. But it happens, all the time. In fact, one study at Ohio State from 2014 found that when we are in a bad mood, we seek out those who are worse off, likely to help us feel better about ourselves.

In the world of psychology, one area of study considering this view is the study of mindset. In her book, Carol Dweck looks at two types of mindset – Growth Mindset and Fixed Mindset. In short, people of the growth mindset believe that they can change in any area where change is needed. This includes intelligence, academic or athletic ability, and career goals. People of the fixed mindset see talent in those areas as gifts from God, and therefore unchangeable – you’ve either got it or you don’t.

Considering those definitions, it’s not hard to recognize that someone with a fixed mindset is more likely to struggle when things don’t go well. If they don’t do well on a test for example, they are likely to feel stupid and incapable, whereas the growth mindset individual will analyze where they struggled and make a plan to improve. What’s interesting here is, as both Dweck and the OSU researchers found out, when fixed mindset folks are feeling down and struggling, they tend to seek out people doing worse than themselves in order to feel better. When they see other people failing, they like it, and this is not good.

Congratulations on discovering what Solomon penned over 2,500 years ago.

“Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.”

Proverbs 17:5 (ESV)

“He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.” It’s interesting to me that while the punishment Solomon mentions here is not specified as temporal or eternal that there is definitely an earthly side to it. A person who receives his enjoyment from the failings of others cannot grow. They are destined to stay stuck, and to wildly self-blame when something goes wrong. They definitely don’t go unpunished.

I wonder how much Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and any other social media facilitates these behaviors. To look up someone from your past and see them not doing so well. Someone who wronged us and we smile when they lose a job. Whether we’re reading Dweck’s work now or Solomon’s proverb from centuries ago, the message is clear.

This is not a good way to live.