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The Why Factor: Envy

Envy

28/03/2014

BBC World Service - The Why Factor, Envy

What is envy and why can it be dangerously destructive or make us strive for success?

What is envy and why is it an emotion than can be dangerously destructive, but can also make us strive for success?

Why do we envy other people? Mike Williams meets a woman who is experiencing severe ‘baby envy’ because she cannot have a child. He explores the role envy plays in literature, whether social media makes us all more envious and if the emotion - often considered dangerously destructive - can sometimes be a force for good.

(Photo: A baby wanting the gold cup for herself. Credit: Getty Images)

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