Envy is a complex emotion characterized by a painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another, coupled with a desire to possess the same advantage. It arises when a person lacks another's quality, skill, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it. Aristotle defined envy as pain at the sight of another's good fortune, particularly stirred by "those who have what we ought to have". Bertrand Russell considered envy one of the most potent causes of unhappiness.
Alain de Botton has explored the concept of envy in the context of modern society, suggesting that it's closely tied to status anxiety and social comparison. De Botton argues that the news and media often promote a "toxic society of envy" by showcasing the lifestyles of the wealthy and successful, leading individuals to feel inadequate. He suggests that dissecting our envy can provide clues to our own ambitions and desires, even recommending the practice of keeping an "envy journal" to better understand these feelings. De Botton also notes that envy is most potent among those we perceive to be our equals or within our "reference group".
