Revenge!

Recent article about studies on the revenge impulse: http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-revenge-20101018,0,2305011.story

Not sure why I found this so interesting. It's not exactly surprising, I guess. Everyone feels revenge. Now we have scientific studies supporting that.

"Most of us have revenge fantasies, human behavior researchers say, and nearly everyone believes that punishing someone who did him wrong would feel tremendously satisfying. But new studies suggest the reality of revenge is far different. Acting on vengeful thoughts often isn't nearly as gratifying as expected and — surprisingly — can even make people feel worse."

That makes sense, if you think about it. I mean, who actually goes out and makes a whole revenge plot to get back at somebody they hate? Sure, maybe you sign them up for countless spam emails, or have pizzas delivered to their door in the middle of the night, or plan a big party and leave them off the invite list. But does actually doing the revenge action make you feel better? And is that the point of revenge - to feel better about yourself? Or to instate your own justice where it hasn't been served? What's the point of justice if the act has already been carried out and you can't do anything about it?

"Although it can be a misguided, costly craving in the modern world, evolutionary psychologists believe the thirst for revenge ensured our ancestors' survival — retaliation was the only way for victims to deter aggressors from harming them or their tribes in the future."

So revenge is a warning sign to others - don't mess with me or I'll get you real good. It's a learning lesson for enemies. If you make out with my boyfriend, you will shortly thereafter receive a punch in the face.

"The results suggest that dwelling on people who did us wrong tends to amplify anger and the instinct to retaliate, says study leader Brad Bushman, a professor of communication and psychology at Ohio State University in Columbus."

Hm. Instead of dwelling on revenge, is it better to just forgive and forget?

"The environment counts the most here," McCullough says. "The penchant for revenge under certain circumstances is within all of us."

Yikes. Tell me what you think?

Chloe