The Bunker – News without the nonsense Revenge – Inside the addiction that drives everything from Trump to The Lion King
8 snips
Aug 1, 2025 
James Kimmel Jr., a Yale psychiatry lecturer and author of The Science of Revenge, joins to explore the addictive nature of vengeance. He shares his personal journey from near-murder to a career in law focused on justice. The conversation dives into how revenge permeates politics, discussing figures like Trump and Putin as reflections of this primal urge. Kimmel also connects the allure of revenge with pop culture, revealing surprising parallels between The Lion King and John Wick, while urging a shift toward forgiveness for emotional healing.
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Bullying Sparks Dark Revenge Urge
- James Kimmel Jr. was bullied and his dog was shot, which ignited his drive for revenge.
- He almost sought lethal retaliation but stopped, realizing the cost would be killing the person he was before this trauma.
Revenge Hijacks Brain Like Drugs
- Grievance activates the brain's pain network; revenge floods it with dopamine, mimicking drug addiction.
- The prefrontal cortex tries to inhibit revenge impulses, but when hijacked, revenge acts occur.
Lawyer's Revenge Is Justice
- Revenge addiction made James a highly aggressive and effective lawyer.
- Legal systems mask revenge as "justice," enabling a socially accepted form of vengeance.
