New Books in Psychology James Kimmel, Jr., "The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction—and How to Overcome It" (Random House, 2025)
Aug 14, 2025
James Kimmel, Jr., an assistant clinical professor at Yale, reveals the hidden addiction to revenge that fuels human aggression. He shares insights from his own life, including a traumatic background that shaped his understanding of justice. Kimmel explores the neuroscience behind revenge and how it activates the brain's pleasure circuits, likening it to addiction. He emphasizes the benefits of forgiveness over vengeance, aiming to disrupt destructive cycles both personally and socially, ultimately advocating for healing through understanding.
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Bullying That Sparked A Revenge Crisis
- James Kimmel Jr. describes childhood bullying that escalated from shunning to physical harassment on a Pennsylvania farm.
- The harassment culminated in his dog being shot, which ignited intense rage and a desire for revenge.
Last-Second Decision Not To Kill
- Kimmel chased his tormentors with his father's loaded revolver and cornered them at a barn in a rage-fueled moment.
- At the last second he chose not to shoot, realizing killing would make him irreversibly different.
Grievances Trigger Addiction Circuits
- Neuroimaging shows imagined grievances activate reward circuitry like the nucleus accumbens and dorsal striatum.
- This suggests revenge cravings operate like addiction, motivating harmful retaliatory behavior.
