Can envy be good for you? With Jens Lange, PhD, and Sara Protasi, PhD

Envy functions as a painful response to perceived inferiority in a domain of high personal relevance, yet it is not inherently destructive. While often vilified, this emotion serves a social function by highlighting personal values and potential areas for growth. Psychologists and philosophers distinguish between benign or emulative envy, which can motivate self-improvement, and malicious or aggressive forms that lead to sabotage and spite. Envy thrives in conditions of similarity, making it common among friends, colleagues, and romantic partners. While social media usage can exacerbate upward social comparisons, particularly for those with a high comparison orientation, the emotion remains a universal human experience. Rather than suppressing envy, individuals can utilize it as a tool for introspection, evaluating whether the desired good is attainable and aligning their responses with constructive goals rather than destructive behaviors.