Joe's entire neighborhood was hit by a forest fire last year. While nearly all of the houses in the neighborhood were burnt to a crisp, Joe's house was miraculously spared and left fully intact. If Joe was like most people, he would nonetheless feel very badly that he came out of the fire alright while others suffered so much. That is, he would be feeling a form of ____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Survivor guilt is the feeling of guilt or shame that one may experience when they have survived a traumatic event or witnessed the suffering of others. In this scenario, Joe's feeling of sadness that others suffered while he was spared is an example of survivor guilt. Schadenfreude is the feeling of pleasure or satisfaction at the misfortune of others, which doesn't apply in this case. Shame is an emotion related to feeling guilty or embarrassed about one's own actions or behavior, which isn't relevant to the situation described. Catharsis is a release of emotions or tension through artistic expression or talking, which also doesn't apply in this scenario.

Joe's Entire Neighborhood Was Hit by a Forest Fire Last