Would you rather be richer or feel superior?

I read about an interesting study that asked people would you rather make $50K a year while your co-workers made $45K or would you rather make $55K a year while your co-workers made $60K?

More people chose option 1. HUH?

My view has always been to not care what my co-workers make. If they make more, oh well. If they make less, oh well again. So I cannot for the life of me imagine anyone preferring to make less just so the slob in the cube next door can make less.

Are people so vain that they would rather give up more money just to feel superior?

So please share your thoughts, which option would you pick?