Most people have experienced it at least once. A friend gets promoted. A coworker launches a successful business. A former classmate buys a dream home. Instead of feeling purely happy for them, a small voice inside whispers, "Why not me?" The feeling can be uncomfortable because many people assume it means they are jealous or selfish. However, psychology suggests the reality is often more complicated. People who feel insecure when others succeed are not necessarily bad people. In many cases, their brains may be responding to deeply rooted psychological mechanisms involving comparison, self-worth, identity and perceived scarcity. Several well-researched theories help explain why another person's success can sometimes trigger unexpected emotions.
