Harnessing Schadenfreude: Mild Misfortune Boosts Charitable Giving

Research reveals that witnessing minor setbacks for disliked individuals can significantly increase donations.

Study shows that mild misfortune, like pies in faces, is more effective for fundraising than severe punishment.
Donors' contributions increase when they have disdain for the person experiencing the misfortune.
Both inflicting and observing the mild misfortune lead to similar donation amounts.
The research highlights the potential for innovative fundraising approaches in the $485 billion charitable sector.
Effective schadenfreude-based events should focus on harmless, playful misfortunes.