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What do people gain from cruelty? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 days ago by Mr_Fish@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

28 comments fedilink hide all child comments

My general assumption for the lowest I can expect a person to behave is basically always looking for their own absolute gain, and any attitude towards other people comes secondary to that. So while a person living by this standard wouldn't donate to charity without some other motive, they would have basically the same answer to something like the trolley problem as anyone else.

Am I wrong thinking of this as a "minimum reasonable behavior", or is there something people actually gain from the suffering of other people?

This question was born out of seeing how people are being treated by the US government at the moment, but I'm asking about more than just that. People like abusive partners/family, hostile cops, or just bullies in general.

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[–] Zak@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago

There are several options. Sometimes they overlap:

Direct gain such as romantic opportunity from sabotaging a rival or items of value from theft. Some people are callous about the harm caused, while others rationalize it as necessary or justified.
Retribution or justice. Most people are happy to hear that a child molester will receive abuse from other prisoners, to give an example.
Sadism - direct satisfaction or pleasure from causing pain to others. This is unlikely to make much sense to those of us who aren't sadists, so it may have to be enough to just know it exists.

Now consider politicians promising to harm some out group and people voting for them. It's a combination of the first two: the politicians attempt to gain elected office by convincing people that the out group is evil or dangerous and promising to do something about it. The voters believe these cruel actions to be justice done to vicious criminals.