Richard H. Smith Ph.D.

About

Richard H. Smith, Ph.D., has edited or co-edited two volumes on envy, Envy: Theory and Research, 2008, and Envy at Work and in Organizations, 2016. He has authored a book on schadenfreude, The Joy of Pain: Schadenfreude and the Dark Side of Human Nature, 2013, a novel, Blockbuster, 2020, and has published two collections of photographs, Neighborhood Watch and Humanoids. Smith taught at the University of Kentucky.

The aim of Social Joy and Pain is to explore the pleasures and displeasures that result from our learning about and interacting with other people.

Books by Richard H. Smith Ph.D.

Recent Posts

Gullible's Travels and the Blind Following of Authority

We tend to blindly follow people who appear to have legitimate authority. To avoid being victimized by charlatans, be alert to their faked authenticity.

Shakespeare-Upun-Avon and the Benefits of Face-Saving

Both Shakespeare and Erving Goffman revealed how pervasive and important are the ritualized, reciprocal ways we maintain a positive public self and that of others, too.

How Much Will a Cruel Action Define a Child Over Time?

How much does the cruel behavior of a child define their later potential to be an authentically caring adult?

Olympic Swimmers Blow a Hidden Norm Out of the Water

Norms shape our behavior even if they are hidden. For instance, our perception is that most people don't pee in public pools. But our perception may be wrong.

Three Strikes and You're Out

When you make a mistake for the third time, it's probably about you, not the situation.

A Simple Way to Excuse Embarrassing Behavior

There is probably no more simple and powerful way to excuse an unflattering behavior than to suggest its commonness.

One Way to Avoid the Confirmation Bias

Take the advice of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Robert Lefkowitz: Commit to testing alternative narratives to explain the facts.

The Thrill and Agony of March Madness

Are there many better feelings than when your team wins and a rival team loses? Are there many worse feelings than when your team loses and a rival team wins?

Luck in War and the Sorrows of What Might Have Been

If you had any doubts about the frequent role of luck in deciding life and death in war, read James Keresey's sobering memoir of his experiences as a PT boat captain in WW II.

Reciprocity Can Save Your Life

An amazing story told by novelist Fredrick Forsyth shows how helping others selflessly can redound, sometimes with unexpected, life-saving benefits.