Hamiltonian spite

noun

Behaviours occurring among conspecifics that have a cost for the actor and a negative impact upon the recipient.

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Meanings

nounHamiltonian spite (uncountable)
  1. uncountablesocial evolutionBehaviours occurring among conspecifics that have a cost for the actor and a negative impact upon the recipient.

Origin

Derived from a 1964 paper on genetics by W. D. Hamilton.

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Cite this entry
APA

Hamiltonian spite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hamiltonian%20spite

MLA

“Hamiltonian spite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hamiltonian%20spite. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Hamiltonian spite,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hamiltonian%20spite.

Source: Hamiltonian spite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.