Why spite someone

A murkier question is can spite be good? It seems counterintuitive to put an optimistic spin on behaviour that, by definition, involves hurting others while incurring harm to yourself. But a new book by Simon McCarthy-Jones explores its benefits. It has made society fairer and more co-operative. Yes, you read that right and no, McCarthy-Jones is not a cowboy: psychologists and evolutionary theorists agree that there can be positives to spite.

It may help enforce social norms and drive protest movements. And, as McCarthy-Jones suggests, it can lead to greater fairness, while forcing us to consider what fairness even means. Positive psychology, which has gained momentum since the s, and the wellness movement that has careered through the public consciousness for the past decade, promote niceness and self-optimisation as twinned ultimate pursuits.

Spite stands in opposition, because it is about harming others and it harms the doer. It is both anti-social and anti-self. Nonetheless, it is part of us today, thanks to the internet, social media and group-identity politics. Remarkably, spite was neglected by psychologists until , when Marcus and his colleagues developed a point spitefulness scale in a study that sparked broader interest in the behaviour. Accessed 11 Nov. English Language Learners Definition of spite Entry 2 of 2.

See the full definition for spite in the English Language Learners Dictionary. Nglish: Translation of spite for Spanish Speakers.

Britannica English: Translation of spite for Arabic Speakers. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Log in Sign Up. Save Word. Definition of spite Entry 1 of 2. Definition of spite Entry 2 of 2. Synonyms for spite Synonyms: Noun cattiness , despite , hatefulness , malevolence , malice , maliciousness , malignance , malignancy , malignity , meanness , nastiness , spitefulness , spleen , venom , viciousness Synonyms: Verb aggravate , annoy , bother , bug , burn up , chafe , eat , exasperate , frost , gall , get , grate , gripe , hack off , irk , irritate , itch , nark [ British ], nettle , peeve , persecute , pique , put out , rasp , rile , ruffle , vex Visit the Thesaurus for More.

Choose the Right Synonym for spite Noun malice , malevolence , ill will , spite , malignity , spleen , grudge mean the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress.

Examples of spite in a Sentence Noun He is jealous and full of spite. Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In spite of the youth, this defense has been dominant for long stretches of Pac games, the second halves at USC and vs. Northeastern University. Office of the Dean. Undergraduate Student Paths.

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