Smith who wrote The Joy of Another's Misfortune,†by Tiffany Watt Smith. The role of envy and competition in inducing such feelings. Schadenfreude : understanding pleasure at a misfortune; it may also consequently increase the. The German word schadenfreude describes taking pleasure in someone else's misfortune? It is our intent and purpose to foster and encourage in-depth discussion about all things related to pleasure at others'.