The Pulse

Why We’re Hardwired for Revenge


Listen Later

When someone wrongs us, getting revenge can feel like the only right move — the only way for us to balance the scales, to set the world right again. But the consequences can be disastrous, especially when payback becomes an all-consuming obsession. 


On this episode, we talk with lawyer-turned-researcher James Kimmel about his new book, "The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction — and How to Overcome It." We discuss the evolutionary roots of revenge, the neuroscience behind why it feels so good, and how Kimmel eventually traded vengeance for forgiveness. We also find out what caused a murder of crows to target an unsuspecting woman, and what was behind their years-long grudge.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The PulseBy WHYY

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

302 ratings


More shows like The Pulse

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,762 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

21,994 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

44,007 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,515 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,696 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,832 Listeners

The Moth by The Moth

The Moth

27,168 Listeners

Selected Shorts by Symphony Space

Selected Shorts

2,877 Listeners

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti by WBUR

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

4,008 Listeners

Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

Reveal

8,450 Listeners

Here & Now Anytime by NPR

Here & Now Anytime

1,007 Listeners

Voices in the Family by WHYY

Voices in the Family

39 Listeners

KERA's Think by KERA

KERA's Think

943 Listeners

Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,417 Listeners

1A by NPR

1A

4,676 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,352 Listeners

Eleanor Amplified by WHYY

Eleanor Amplified

2,210 Listeners

A.I. Nation by WHYY

A.I. Nation

192 Listeners