- An interaction where the actor and the recipient both suffer a cost is referred to as
(1) Altruism (2) Cooperation
(3) Mutualism (4) SpiteDefining Spite in Animal Behavior
Spite refers to an interaction where both the actor (the individual performing the behavior) and the recipient (the individual affected by the behavior) suffer a fitness cost. In other words, both individuals are worse off as a result of the interaction.
How Spite Differs from Other Interactions
Let’s compare spite with other common types of social interactions:
Interaction Actor’s Fitness Recipient’s Fitness Example Altruism Decreases Increases Worker bee helping queen Cooperation Increases Increases Wolves hunting together Mutualism Increases Increases Bees pollinating flowers Spite Decreases Decreases Aggressive acts harming both -
Altruism: The actor pays a cost, but the recipient gains a benefit.
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Cooperation/Mutualism: Both parties benefit from the interaction.
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Spite: Both parties pay a cost; there is no immediate benefit to either.
Why Does Spite Occur?
Spiteful behaviors are rare in nature because natural selection usually favors actions that increase fitness. However, spite can evolve under specific conditions, such as when harming another individual indirectly benefits close relatives of the actor by reducing competition.
Conclusion
An interaction where both the actor and the recipient suffer a cost is referred to as spite.
Correct answer: (4) Spite
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1 Comment
Kajal
October 15, 2025Spite