How We React to Others' Success and Failure

Topic: Psychology

New research shows how people respond when others share their successes or failures. A study by Bayes Business School found that we often match our own experiences to theirs, showing empathy and avoiding boastfulness.

Imagine you're talking to a friend who just got into their dream college. You might feel happy for them, but also think about your own experience of getting rejected from a similar college. This is what researchers at Bayes Business School in London wanted to study. They looked at how people respond when others share their successes or failures.

The researchers conducted nine experiments with over 8,000 participants. They found that we tend to match our own experiences to the other person's success or failure. For example, if someone shares a success story, we might share one of our own successes to show empathy and avoid coming across as boastful. On the other hand, if someone shares a failure story, we might share one of our own failures to show understanding.

The researchers also found that people are more likely to match their experiences when they have a close relationship with the person sharing their news. For instance, if you're talking to a family member who just failed a driving test, you might be more likely to share your own experience of failing a driving test too.

The study suggests that our decisions to disclose our experiences are driven by concern for how the other person feels. We want to show empathy and comfort them, rather than competing with their success or hiding our failures out of shame.

Why It Matters

This research can help you understand how people react when they share their successes or failures. It can also teach you how to respond in a way that shows empathy and builds stronger relationships.

Key Facts

• The study was conducted by researchers at Bayes Business School in London, with the help of colleagues from Rice University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Bocconi University.
• The researchers looked at over 8,000 participants across nine experiments.
• The study found that people tend to match their own experiences to others' successes or failures.
• People are more likely to match their experiences when they have a close relationship with the person sharing their news.
• The study suggests that our decisions to disclose our experiences are driven by concern for how the other person feels.

Key Terms

Empathy

Feeling and understanding what another person is going through

Implications

This research can help you understand how people react when they share their successes or failures. It can also teach you how to respond in a way that shows empathy and builds stronger relationships.