Which of the following is the most likely way a spiteful person would respond to an insult according to psychological theories of stress and personality?

• A. They might internalize the insult and feel sad without reacting outwardly.
• B. They might seek social support to cope with the insult.
• C. They might ignore the insult and try to de-escalate the situation.
• D. They might retaliate with a hurtful comment or action to get back at the insulter.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the personality trait of spitefulness, which involves a tendency to seek revenge or to harm others even at a cost to oneself.
2. Step 2: Recognize that psychological theories of stress and personality suggest that individuals with spiteful traits are more likely to respond to insults with aggressive or retaliatory behaviors rather than passive or supportive coping strategies.
3. Step 3: Compare the possible responses to an insult: internalizing (feeling sad), seeking social support, ignoring the insult, and retaliating with hurtful actions.
4. Step 4: Analyze that internalizing or seeking social support are more typical of individuals with different personality traits, such as neuroticism or agreeableness, rather than spitefulness.
5. Step 5: Conclude that a spiteful person is most likely to respond by retaliating with a hurtful comment or action to get back at the insulter, consistent with their tendency toward revenge and aggression.