What constitutes a spiteful action?

A spiteful action is characterized by behavior that intentionally causes harm or detriment to another individual, often without the intention of deriving a personal benefit. This behavior is typically motivated by a desire to inflict damage out of spite, resentment, or rivalry, rather than purely for self-interest.

The answer recognizes that telling on a classmate for cheating while admitting to previous cheating embodies a form of spitefulness. This action can be interpreted as an effort to undermine the classmate's standing by exposing their dishonest behavior, all while acknowledging one's own ethical failings. It reflects a willingness to harm another's situation to achieve a personal sense of vindication, which aligns with the motivation behind spiteful actions.

On the other hand, helping others while losing personal gain exemplifies altruism rather than spitefulness, as it involves self-sacrifice for the benefit of others. Withholding help from a rival might indicate competition or self-interest, but does not actively harm the rival, which is a key factor in defining spite. Sabotaging a peer's work, while harmful, may not align entirely with the complexity of personal admission and the context provided in choice B, focusing instead on direct negative action without a relational context. Thus, choice B captures the essence of a spite