Envy is the main trait that drives most of us, Spanish study finds

September 16, 2016

Many people are prepared to lose out as long as neighbour is worse off
Study showed people would willingly take smaller raffle prize if it diminished others chances of winning
Nearly 90 per cent of the population can be split into categories of optimistic, pessimistic, trusting and envious

Colin Fernandez for the Daily Mail

Published:
18:59 EST, 15 September 2016

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Updated:
19:12 EST, 15 September 2016

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Many people operate out of jealousy, a new study has revealed, not simply in rational ways, as previous research indicated. (file image)

Few of us would like to think we are the envious type. But psychologists have found that all too often envy is the reason we behave the way we do.

Rather than working out what’s best for everyone, it seems many people are prepared to lose out, so long as their neighbour is left worse off.

Findings published in the journal Science Advances revealed 30 per cent of 541 volunteers tested were willing to ignore a larger raffle prize in a game of chance and settle for a smaller one as long as doing so diminished others’ chances of winning.

Describing the envious personality type, the researchers said that they ‘seem to behave as driven by envy, status-seeking consideration, or lack of trust … these players prevent their counterparts from receiving more payoff than themselves even when, by doing so, they diminish their own potential payoff.’

Study author Professor Yamir Moreno, from the University of Zaragoza in Spain, said: ‘The results go against certain theories: the one which states that humans act purely rationally, for example.’

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Researchers found that nearly 90 per cent of the population can be divided into four basic temperaments: optimistic, pessimistic, trusting and envious in their approach to life.

‘Envious’ personalities are the most widespread – with nearly one in three people falling into the category. This compares to 20 per cent for other groups.

A further 10 per cent could not be categorised – with personalities that the psychologists dubbed ‘random’ – inconsistent people who take different approaches at whim.

Half empty or half full? The study found people could be categorised into four types of basic temperaments, optimistic, pessimistic, trusting and envious

In the study, the researchers used games to test whether players want to risk cooperation for a potentially larger pay-off for both parties, or go it alone but get a smaller share.

How each player reacted was sorted by computer, which analysed the responses and clustered them into four basic strategies which were labelled by the researchers.

In one game called the Stag Hunt, players would be rewarded with raffle tickets with a chance to win €40.

In the game, two people are offered the choice to hunt for a stag or a rabbit. Stags were worth more, but they both had to choose to hunt a stag to succeed.

If they chose to hunt rabbits, they could do so on their own and they were guaranteed a ticket for the draw.

Envious types would hunt for the rabbit as they could not bear the thought another person doing better than them, even if it meant they received less.