<p>There is definitely more than one aspect to this question. One of them is if there is a certain type of person that views life as a zero-sum game. What I looked into is if there is a certain type of person that actually gains something from hurting others. 
There seems to be: The everyday sadist. 
Buckels, Jones and Paulhus (2013) mean that there is a sadist personality type that is expressed in everyday life. (See: <a href="http://pss.sagepub.com/content/24/11/2201" rel="nofollow">http://pss.sagepub.com/content/24/11/2201</a> and <a href="http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/releases/everyday-sadists-take-pleasure-in-others-pain.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/releases/everyday-sadists-take-pleasure-in-others-pain.html</a> for an article summing up the scientific article).
These researchers have been looking into traits that they call the "Dark Triad". "When aggression was easy, sadism and Dark Triad measures predicted unprovoked aggression. However, only sadists were willing to work for the opportunity to hurt an innocent person." 
People strong in this trait would probably feel affirmed by a world view that enables them to fund pleasure with a rationale behind it.
This answer is inadequate as a complete response to your question. 
Something I'd like to look into further is the Just World hypothesis, where the belief that the world should mete our justice leads us to act in a certain way.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-17T06:42:55.740Z
2016-08-17T06:42:55.740Z
Charlotte SL
<p>This kind of thinking can be connected simply with psychoticism, which is classed as personality trait by Eysenck (1976). One pole of this trait is connected with altriusm and pro-social behaviours and the second one with psychopathy, schizofrenic and criminality behaviours.</p>

<p>More:</p>

<p>1) Eysenck, H. J (1976) Psychoticism as a dimension of personality</p>

<p>2) Erik Woody†,* andGordon Claridge (2011) Psychoticism and thinking</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-30T21:00:50.563Z
I agree that it *can* be, but whether it should be in a given case is debatable. Other reasons might exist for this sort of thinking, such as personal experience with victimization and resultant dispositional cynicism/mistrust. BTW, welcome to Cognitive Sciences! I love to see a new user posting references like these.
Nick Stauner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-30T20:48:03.300Z
2014-04-30T20:48:03.300Z
Zuzanna Kowalska
<p>I have a strong feeling that many people consider life as a zero-sum game, i.e. they always assume that you'll benefit, if you harm/disadvantage someone. Any research on this?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-28T21:19:34.073Z
The premise of your question implies disbelief in [altruism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism) and malice without associated gain, as these could not exist in a true zero-sum game. There may be plenty of cynics and pragmatists in the world who possess such beliefs, but it hardly seems plausible as a majority opinion. I'd bet most people are acquainted with altruism and believe that others are capable of gainless "evil", or something like that...Just commenting my initial reaction here in hope that it might help you clarify your issue of interest. It's an awfully short question as is...
Nick Stauner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-29T03:49:42.737Z
Yes, Yochelson and Samenow's famous work on the psychology of criminals found this belief to be comparatively common among the offenders they studied.
Codeswitcher
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-08T17:51:26.353Z
@Nick Stauner, I don't think this belief has something to do with pragmatism.
user626528
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-08T17:56:44.167Z
Laymen's pragmatism might permute into this sort of belief: "People don't choose their behaviors to help or harm others; they choose what will benefit themselves, even though this selfishness harms others."
Nick Stauner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-08T18:14:19.950Z
@Nick Stauner, looks like affirming the consequent
user626528
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-08T18:26:56.817Z
Looks like [the basis of a good answer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirming_the_consequent) to your own question ;)
Nick Stauner
<social-psychology><bias>
Why do some people believe that life is a zero-sum game and that if you harm someone, you will benefit?
user626528
# Why do some people believe that life is a zero-sum game and that if you harm someone, you will benefit?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-28)

I have a strong feeling that many people consider life as a zero-sum game, i.e. they always assume that you'll benefit, if you harm/disadvantage someone. Any research on this?

**Tags:** social-psychology, bias

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The premise of your question implies disbelief in [altruism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism) and malice without associated gain, as these could not exist in a true zero-sum game. There may be plenty of cynics and pragmatists in the world who possess such beliefs, but it hardly seems plausible as a majority opinion. I'd bet most people are acquainted with altruism and believe that others are capable of gainless "evil", or something like that...Just commenting my initial reaction here in hope that it might help you clarify your issue of interest. It's an awfully short question as is...  
> **username_2**: Yes, Yochelson and Samenow's famous work on the psychology of criminals found this belief to be comparatively common among the offenders they studied.  
> **username_0**: @username_1, I don't think this belief has something to do with pragmatism.  
> **username_1**: Laymen's pragmatism might permute into this sort of belief: "People don't choose their behaviors to help or harm others; they choose what will benefit themselves, even though this selfishness harms others."  
> **username_0**: @username_1, looks like affirming the consequent  
> **username_1**: Looks like [the basis of a good answer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirming_the_consequent) to your own question ;)  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-08-17. Score: 3

There is definitely more than one aspect to this question. One of them is if there is a certain type of person that views life as a zero-sum game. What I looked into is if there is a certain type of person that actually gains something from hurting others.
There seems to be: The everyday sadist.
Buckels, Jones and Paulhus (2013) mean that there is a sadist personality type that is expressed in everyday life. (See: <http://pss.sagepub.com/content/24/11/2201> and <http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/releases/everyday-sadists-take-pleasure-in-others-pain.html> for an article summing up the scientific article).
These researchers have been looking into traits that they call the "Dark Triad". "When aggression was easy, sadism and Dark Triad measures predicted unprovoked aggression. However, only sadists were willing to work for the opportunity to hurt an innocent person."
People strong in this trait would probably feel affirmed by a world view that enables them to fund pleasure with a rationale behind it.
This answer is inadequate as a complete response to your question.
Something I'd like to look into further is the Just World hypothesis, where the belief that the world should mete our justice leads us to act in a certain way.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2014-04-30. Score: 2

This kind of thinking can be connected simply with psychoticism, which is classed as personality trait by Eysenck (1976). One pole of this trait is connected with altriusm and pro-social behaviours and the second one with psychopathy, schizofrenic and criminality behaviours.

More:

1) Eysenck, H. J (1976) Psychoticism as a dimension of personality

2) Erik Woody†,\* andGordon Claridge (2011) Psychoticism and thinking

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I agree that it *can* be, but whether it should be in a given case is debatable. Other reasons might exist for this sort of thinking, such as personal experience with victimization and resultant dispositional cynicism/mistrust. BTW, welcome to Cognitive Sciences! I love to see a new user posting references like these.  

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