Spite (sentiment)

Spite or spitefulness refers to action derived from, or a tendency to engage in malevolence. Spitefulness is a general personality trait which refers to the capacity and desire to harm others, specifically due to no clear and overt cause. Vindictiveness is not a hallmark of this spitefulness, because then it may be justified, or be derived from an identifiable cause: spitefulness refers to a general desire to cause harm. Further, spite can often be traced back to envy, as the bitterness of one's disposition is the main identifier of this mental state.

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." 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. Spite has been theorized also as productive. 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.

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.