Pleasure in another person’s pain

From time to time, I have expressed an occasional appreciation for schadenfreude: pleasure in the misfortune of others.

It turns out that I am not so unusual. after all

Thanks to the ability of scientists to conduct brain scans, new research has demonstrated that when a person learns about the misfortune of a colleague or friend, the pleasure center in his or her brain activates.

Similarly, when one learns about the success or good fortune of a friend, the pain center of the brain will light up.

In short, envy is physiologically attached to pain, and schadenfreude is attached to pleasure, at least within the brain. 

And so It turns out that I am just like everyone else, only different in my willingness to admit to how despicable I may be feeling.