{
  "id": 15755183,
  "title": "The surprising upside of envy, the emotion we’re taught to hide",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/the-surprising-upside-of-envy-the-emotion-were-taught-to-hide",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-20T14:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Big Think",
    "slug": "big-think",
    "url": "https://bigthink.com/books/the-surprising-upside-of-envy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The story of envy began early in my life. When I was six, I woke up to find my bedroom filled with baby items, a stark contrast to the decorations of my own room. My parents had hosted a baby shower for my mother, and it was clear that the focus was on the baby's arrival rather than on me. This experience sparked my first memory of envy, a feeling I had never fully understood. While I was excited about becoming a big sister, I was also deeply envious of the attention and gifts given to my unborn sibling. This sentiment was not unique to me; envy is a universal emotion experienced by people of all ages and backgrounds. Despite its prevalence, envy is often shrouded in shame and secrecy, as it is considered a \"deadly sin\" in some religions and seen as negative by many cultures. Many people struggle to articulate what envy truly is, often confusing it with jealousy. However, envy is simply the feeling of wanting something someone else has, leading to a sense of inadequacy and inferiority. Envy is a natural response to social comparisons, a mechanism that has evolved to help us navigate group dynamics and social hierarchies. While envy is often associated with material possessions, it can also be directed towards qualities like intellect, creativity, or virtue. It is not just about coveting wealth or power; it can be a healthy motivator for personal growth and ambition. Unfortunately, society often stigmatizes envy, discouraging open discussions about this complex emotion. By acknowledging and understanding envy, we can harness its potential to drive positive change and personal development.",
  "summary": "There was a distinct moment when I stopped being a happy-go-lucky little girl, one who could play for hours alone at the bathroom sink with a set of colorful plastic nesting cups, and became someone who felt left behind and unseen. I was six. I woke up early one Saturday morning in 1975 to silence, which meant my parents were still asleep in their makeshift bedroom — what was once the dining…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}