28°c Partly cloudy
18°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, science confirms
The quest for vengeance is a human universal and accumulating evidence shows avengers permeate the animal kingdom. There is a common neurological foundation and scientists suspect a pay-back mentality developed to promote social harmony by discouraging aberrant behaviours.
"Revenge takes place throughout the animal kingdom," reports Michael McCullough at the University of Miami. "Fish, birds and all kinds of primates retaliate."
Violations of trust are most often the cause for vengeful actions.
"A cheated person has bad feelings if the cheater does not get just punishment," observed Ernst Fehr at the University of Zurich, adding that people feel "satisfied" when others are punished for bad behaviour.
According to research by Dominique de Quervain and colleagues, "people derive satisfaction from punishing norm violators."
Revenge has an emotional geography. "(Avengers) are motivated to make sense of events when they seem unjust or disrupt perceived equity," concluded Robert Bies at Georgetown University and Thomas Tripp at Washington State University in a recent analysis. "They attempt to restore balance through their (retributive) actions."
Evidence shows that betrayal, emotional or physical pain, ingratitude and humiliation are among the most significant causes of a desire for retribution. In seeking to impose "just deserts" (coined in 1599), anger, frustration and resentment are mitigated through specific neurological mechanisms. The prospect of punishing offensive actions makes people feel better -- literally.
That is because there is a correlation between cerebral activity and the degree of magnitude of the anticipated retribution, Fehr's brain studies show.
"Activation in the dorsal striatum reflects the anticipated satisfaction from punishing others," de Quervain reported.
The desire for revenge has a gender bias. According to author Claire Gillman, research shows men are more vengeful than women, except in instances involving romance. Research shows that, in that case, there is a substantial validity to William Congreves' 1697 observation that "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
Julie Exline at Case Western Reserve University thinks that women are more vengeful in romantic circumstances because they "often magnify offences."
"Gender differences between men and women consistently emerge (in vengeance situations)," she says. "Both genders are more forgiving when they see themselves as capable of committing a similar action to the offenders."
McCullough concludes that whereas taking vengeance was very popular historically, it has become a hidden desire more recently.
"We dare not use the word revenge to justify our behaviour... for fear of seeming petty, base, immoral, immature or just evil," he concludes.
But, he points out that an increased heart rate and blood pressure accompanies vengeful thoughts or action, confirming neurological foundations.
A strengthening "therapautic mindset" in the general public has increasingly considered "revenge as a disease with forgiveness its cure," he says.
Humans have self-image, and some scientists believe that in order to maintain and project a positive "self-schema," meting out punishment for transgressions is a contributing factor. A University of Waterloo study shows that self-affirmation is linked to taking retaliation measures. Fehr suggests that vengeful actions developed originally to enhance cohesion in societies, but that people learned to weigh "the potential cost of retaliatory measures" before initiating reprisals.
Robert Alison has a doctorate in zoology and is based in Victoria, B.C.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 27, 2010 A15
More Analysis
- Back to Top
- Return to Analysis
More Analysis
(1 of 6 articles for today)
Peace process with Taliban fragile
1:58 PM 0Past attempts by the Obama administration to start peace talks with the Afghan Taliban foundered in part because the process ...
Poll
Most Popular Analysis
- The Brazilian middle class awakens
- Hike to PST will bite Manitobans hard
- Hidden no more
- Don't let flood-evacuee problems kill the vision
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Bernanke averted a global depression
- Firm sues governments over intellectual property
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Pimachiowin Aki is exceptional heritage
- Mau Maus win 50-year-long battle
- Too rural, too white, too male
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Quebec's nationalism run amok
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Beauty and the (mortgage) Beast
- The Brazilian middle class awakens
- Was east side misled by NDP government?
- Expense scandal dogs Nova Scotia's fading NDP government
- UNESCO's concerns unrelated to Bipole III
- Appalling rates of public-sector absenteeism must be addressed
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Key of Bart: Video Killed The Mayor Who Hates The Toronto Star
- Too rural, too white, too male
- A sorry fact -- Katz finds it hard to apologize
- Ford puts Toronto on the map at last
- Manitoba Hydro's halcyon days are gone
- The key of Bart
- Ford can't resign as mayor soon enough
- Obama gets ‘revenge’ with Rice appointment
- Hidden no more
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Work, not retirement, saves lives
- Don't let flood-evacuee problems kill the vision
- UNESCO's concerns unrelated to Bipole III
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Shed more light on JTF2 secrets
- Hydro must serve citizens, not government
- The view of Bipole III from Hart Mountain
- Aging makes women proud — and loud
- Was east side misled by NDP government?
- Quebec's nationalism run amok
- Hidden no more
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- No bailouts required for Pollock's
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Teachers should fast-track inclusive plan
- Manitoba Hydro's halcyon days are gone
- Hydro must serve citizens, not government
- Shocking exclusion
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Gadgets in classrooms are gimmicks
- ‘Stand your ground’ case not what it seemed
- Hydro plans will be scrutinized in public
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.