Leiden University Student Repository

Nicolai, Lisanne (2022)

Why share if misfortune is there? A study of motivational factors for sharing videos of other people's mis fortune on social media.

Master thesis | Psychology (MSc)

This study discusses potential motivators for sharing videos of other people's misfortune on the internet. Schadenfreude, stereotypes as part of someone's worldview, mortality salience, and fundamental psychological needs, such as the need for esteem, need for control, need for a meaningful existence, and need to belong, were all investigated in relation to sharing such videos online. The 132 participants took part in an online study with a 2 worldview (confirming vs disconfirming) by 2 misfortune (lethal vs. non-lethal) between-subjects design. The study featured 3 different videos which were followed by a questionnaire and several demographic questions. The first three hypotheses focused on the effect of worldview on schadenfreude and the willingness to share. The three hypotheses that followed focused on the effect of mortality salience on the fundamental needs and the willingness to share. The final hypothesis incorporated the elements of the first six hypotheses. A series of...Show moreThis study discusses potential motivators for sharing videos of other people's misfortune on the internet. Schadenfreude, stereotypes as part of someone's worldview, mortality salience, and fundamental psychological needs, such as the need for esteem, need for control, need for a meaningful existence, and need to belong, were all investigated in relation to sharing such videos online. The 132 participants took part in an online study with a 2 worldview (confirming vs disconfirming) by 2 misfortune (lethal vs. non-lethal) between-subjects design. The study featured 3 different videos which were followed by a questionnaire and several demographic questions. The first three hypotheses focused on the effect of worldview on schadenfreude and the willingness to share. The three hypotheses that followed focused on the effect of mortality salience on the fundamental needs and the willingness to share. The final hypothesis incorporated the elements of the first six hypotheses. A series of MANOVAs and ANOVAs for the different videos showed only non-significant or marginally significant effects. Therefore, an exploratory analysis investigated the influence of gender and empathy on schadenfreude. The theoretical and practical implications, as well as limitations and future research, are discussed.Show less

Schadenfreude, motivational factors, online sharing, video's online, social media, misforturn

Author

Nicolai, Lisanne

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Social and Organizational Psychology

Supervisors

Marco van Bommel

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en