Psychologists are exploring spitefulness in its customary role as a negative trait, a lapse that should be embarrassing but is often sublimated as righteousness, as when you take your own sour time pulling out of a parking space because you notice another car is waiting for it and you’ll show that vulture who’s boss here, even though you’re wasting your own time, too. …
Re: "However, while it is true that humans are often more other-oriented than in our simplest econ models, this other-orientation is as likely to be spiteful as generous."
I don't think that is true. Your first supporting cite is of cost-free spite - which is not a very realistic type of spite. Two of the best known models of human generosity are kin selection and reciprocity. Kin selection predicts that cooperation is much more likely than spite, since many interactions are preferentially with relatives, and the costs of harming unrelated individuals typically outweigh the benefits. Note that cultural kin selection expands the scope of kin selection far beyond the domain of blood relatives. For more, the topic is often known as "Hamiltonian spite".
Competition Cuts Spite
Re: "However, while it is true that humans are often more other-oriented than in our simplest econ models, this other-orientation is as likely to be spiteful as generous."
I don't think that is true. Your first supporting cite is of cost-free spite - which is not a very realistic type of spite. Two of the best known models of human generosity are kin selection and reciprocity. Kin selection predicts that cooperation is much more likely than spite, since many interactions are preferentially with relatives, and the costs of harming unrelated individuals typically outweigh the benefits. Note that cultural kin selection expands the scope of kin selection far beyond the domain of blood relatives. For more, the topic is often known as "Hamiltonian spite".
Awesome post. Thanks Robin.