333. The psychology of 'haters'

In "The Psychology of Your 20s," Jemma explores the reasons behind our secret love for hate, diving into the psychology of gossip, cancel culture, and schadenfreude. She clarifies that the discussion excludes hate that leads to discrimination or hate crimes, focusing instead on intense dislike as a source of information about our values and insecurities. Jemma discusses how suppressing hate can make indulging in it feel good, the intensity of hate triggering pleasure-related neurotransmitters, and how hate can coexist with happiness. She also touches on the role of gossip as a survival mechanism and a form of emotional regulation, the phenomenon of schadenfreude, and the negative impacts of hate, including guilt, shame, and long-term health issues. The episode further examines internet trolls, their personality traits, and the psychological factors that enable online hate, as well as why our closest friends can sometimes be our biggest haters due to social comparison and projection. Jemma concludes by offering guidance on managing hateful feelings, turning envy into inspiration, curating social media, and responding to hateful people.