Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness Why Your Brain Craves Revenge and How to Break Free
May 21, 2025
James Kimmel Jr., a Yale lecturer and expert on revenge and forgiveness, dives deep into our innate desire for vengeance. He discusses how social media amplifies this compulsive behavior, likening it to an addiction. Kimmel shares insights into the psychological and neurological roots of revenge, emphasizing the importance of forgiveness as a healing path. With personal stories, he illustrates the transformative journey from holding onto grudges to achieving emotional liberation, urging listeners to break free from the cycle of resentment.
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Compulsive Revenge Is a Brain Addiction
- Revenge becomes a problem when it is compulsive and uncontrollable despite consequences.
- This compulsive revenge-seeking affects all social levels, from governments to intimate relationships.
Social Media Fuels Revenge Spirals
- Social media massively amplifies grievance and revenge-seeking by constant exposure to perceived injustices.
- It acts like a virus infecting the brain with continuous psychological wounds and triggers.
Revenge Triggers Dopamine Addiction
- Neuroscience shows thinking about revenge triggers a dopamine surge creating a craving.
- This cycle mimics addiction involving the brain's pain and reward circuitry.
