Posted by Shortelise on April 28, 2005, at 17:34:18
In reply to Trying to understand spite, posted by Sarah T. on April 28, 2005, at 3:08:19
Interesting question.
Spite: petty ill will or hatred with the disposition to irritate, annoy or thwart. see Malice
I'd agree it comes from feeling deprived.
Sometimes a person feels higher if he can make someone feel lower.
It might also come from role models. If a parent models feeling "good" after spiteful behavior, maybe a child would keep repeating that ugliness.
I know you didn't ask, but I am thinking about ways of dealing with a spiteful person. I have found that telling my mother that I cannot listen to her complain about my father because it upsets me has pretty much stopped her from saying really terrible things to me about him.
What would happen if you asked the spiteful person why s/he is so mean? It has been moment when people have called me on behaviors that have changed those behaviors.
Hm.
ShortE
poster:Shortelise
thread:490694
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050428/msgs/491094.html