Spite (sentiment): Difference between revisions

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{{AfDM|page=Spite (sentiment)|year=2022|month=September|day=23|substed=yes|origtag=afdx}}

{{short description|Intentionally harming others without self-benefit}}
{{short description|Intentionally harming others without self-benefit}}
To '''spite''' is to intentionally [[annoy]], [[Suffering|hurt]], or [[wiktionary:upset|upset]] even when there might be no (apparent) gain, and even when those actions might cause the person spiting harm, as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/554980/scientific-facts-about-spite|title=10 Scientific Facts About Spite|date=29 August 2018}}</ref> ''Spiteful'' [[word]]s or [[Action (philosophy)|actions]] are delivered in such a way that it is clear that the person is delivering them just to annoy, hurt, or upset.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/spite|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419012057/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/spite|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 19, 2014|title=spite - definition of spite in English from the Oxford dictionary}}</ref> When the intent to annoy, hurt, or upset is shown subtly, behavior is considered ''catty''.<ref>http://www.webcitation.org/5kx5iPe3s?url=http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid%3D1861595550 {{Dead link|date=June 2022}}</ref>
'''Spite''' or '''spitefulness''' as a sentiment, action, or a personality trait has several possible meanings.<ref name="APA"/> According to the [[American Psychological Association]] there is "no standard definition of spitefulness. Spite can be broadly defined to include any vindictive or mean-spirited actions. Alternatively, a narrower definition includes the requirement that spiteful acts involve some degree of [[self-harm]]."<ref name="APA"/> One possible definition of spite is to intentionally [[annoy]], [[Suffering|hurt]], or [[wiktionary:upset|upset]] even when there might be no (apparent) gain, and even when those actions might cause the person spiting harm, as well.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Neel V Patel|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/554980/scientific-facts-about-spite|title=10 Scientific Facts About Spite|date=29 August 2018|work=[[Mental Floss]]}}</ref> ''Spiteful'' [[word]]s or [[Action (philosophy)|actions]] are delivered in such a way that it is clear that the person is delivering them just to annoy, hurt, or upset.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/spite|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419012057/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/spite|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 19, 2014|title=Spite|work=[[Oxford English Dictionary]]}}</ref>


In his 1929 examination of emotional disturbances, ''Psychology and Morals: An Analysis of Character'', J. A. Hadfield uses deliberately spiteful acts to illustrate the difference between disposition and sentiment.<ref name=Hadfield>{{Cite book|title = Psychology and Morals: An Analysis of Character |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=T5xACwAAQBAJ&q=%22psychology+and+morals%22+analysis+character&pg=PA196 |website = Google Books preview|access-date = 2016-05-02|first = J. A.|last = Hadfield|date = 22 December 2015|isbn = 9781317235804}}</ref>
In his 1929 examination of emotional disturbances, ''Psychology and Morals: An Analysis of Character'', J. A. Hadfield uses deliberately spiteful acts to illustrate the difference between disposition and sentiment.<ref name=Hadfield>{{Cite book|title = Psychology and Morals: An Analysis of Character |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=T5xACwAAQBAJ&q=%22psychology+and+morals%22+analysis+character&pg=PA196 |access-date = 2016-05-02|first = J. A.|last = Hadfield|date = 22 December 2015|isbn = 9781317235804}}</ref>


Spite has also been studied as a [[Trait theory|trait]] of [[human personality]];<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24548150/|title=The psychology of spite and the measurement of spitefulness|first1=David K |last1=Marcus |first2=Virgil |last2=Zeigler-Hill |first3=Sterett H |last3=Mercer |first4=Alyssa L |last4=Norris|doi=10.1037/a0036039|journal= Psychological Assessment|date=February 17, 2014|volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=563–574 |pmid=24548150 }} </ref> although in general spite has been largely ignored in academic literature.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140423101850.htm|title=Psychological study of spite: 'Virtually ignored' by researchers|date=April 23, 2014|work=[[ScienceDaily]]}}</ref> [[University of Washington]] researchers David K Marcus, Virgil Zeigler-Hill, Sterett H Mercer, and Alyssa L Norris were the first to develop a personality scale designed to measure and assess the trait of spitefulness which was published in 2014 in ''[[Psychological Assessment (journal)|Psychological Assessment]]''.<ref name="APA">{{cite book|chapter-url=https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-40805-007|doi=10.1037/14854-007|chapter=Spite |title=The dark side of personality: Science and practice in social, personality, and clinical psychology |year=2016 |last1=Marcus |first1=David K. |last2=Norris |first2=Alyssa L. |pages=121–133 |isbn=978-1-4338-2187-5 |publisher=American Psychological Association}}</ref>
==In fiction==

==Spite in literature==
The Underground Man, in [[Fyodor Dostoevsky]]'s novella ''[[Notes from Underground]]'', is an example of spite. His motivation remains constantly spiteful, undercutting his own existence and ability to live.
The Underground Man, in [[Fyodor Dostoevsky]]'s novella ''[[Notes from Underground]]'', is an example of spite. His motivation remains constantly spiteful, undercutting his own existence and ability to live.


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==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
:*{{cite journal|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/one-among-many/202110/why-we-behave-spitefully|title=Why We Behave Spitefully: Spitefulness is expensive. So why do we do it?|journal=[[Psychology Today]]|date= October 9, 2021}}
:*{{cite journal|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/201906/spite-what-we-do-the-sweet-sake-revenge|title=Spite: What We Do for the Sweet Sake of Revenge|author=Leon F. Seltzer|date=June 19, 2019|journal=[[Psychology Today]]}}
:*{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/04/23/306240840/why-are-we-spiteful-even-though-it-bites-us-back|title=Why Are We Spiteful, Even Though It Bites Us Back?|author=Maanvi Singh|work=[[NPR]]|date=April 23, 2014}}

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Latest revision as of 17:32, 22 April 2024

Spite or spitefulness as a sentiment, action, or a personality trait has several possible meanings.[1] According to the American Psychological Association there is "no standard definition of spitefulness. Spite can be broadly defined to include any vindictive or mean-spirited actions. Alternatively, a narrower definition includes the requirement that spiteful acts involve some degree of self-harm."[1] One possible definition of spite is to intentionally annoy, hurt, or upset even when there might be no (apparent) gain, and even when those actions might cause the person spiting harm, as well.[2] Spiteful words or actions are delivered in such a way that it is clear that the person is delivering them just to annoy, hurt, or upset.[3]

In his 1929 examination of emotional disturbances, Psychology and Morals: An Analysis of Character, J. A. Hadfield uses deliberately spiteful acts to illustrate the difference between disposition and sentiment.[4]

Spite has also been studied as a trait of human personality;[5] although in general spite has been largely ignored in academic literature.[6] University of Washington researchers David K Marcus, Virgil Zeigler-Hill, Sterett H Mercer, and Alyssa L Norris were the first to develop a personality scale designed to measure and assess the trait of spitefulness which was published in 2014 in Psychological Assessment.[1]

Spite in literature[edit]

The Underground Man, in Fyodor Dostoevsky's novella Notes from Underground, is an example of spite. His motivation remains constantly spiteful, undercutting his own existence and ability to live.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Marcus, David K.; Norris, Alyssa L. (2016). "Spite". The dark side of personality: Science and practice in social, personality, and clinical psychology. American Psychological Association. pp. 121–133. doi:10.1037/14854-007. ISBN 978-1-4338-2187-5.
  2. ^ Neel V Patel (29 August 2018). "10 Scientific Facts About Spite". Mental Floss.
  3. ^ "Spite". Oxford English Dictionary. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014.
  4. ^ Hadfield, J. A. (22 December 2015). Psychology and Morals: An Analysis of Character. ISBN 9781317235804. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  5. ^ Marcus, David K; Zeigler-Hill, Virgil; Mercer, Sterett H; Norris, Alyssa L (February 17, 2014). "The psychology of spite and the measurement of spitefulness". Psychological Assessment. 26 (2): 563–574. doi:10.1037/a0036039. PMID 24548150.
  6. ^ "Psychological study of spite: 'Virtually ignored' by researchers". ScienceDaily. April 23, 2014.

Further reading[edit]