Start / Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin / 215 are you addicted to revenge why we crave it and how to break the cycle with james kimmel

Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin

215 — Are You Addicted to Revenge? Why We Crave It and How to Break the Cycle with James Kimmel

52 min • 26 maj 2025

Revenge sounds like a good idea sometimes. Whether you want to get back at an ex or you want to hurt a coworker who wronged you, there's a reason why you might fantasize about getting even. It has to do with the way your brain works.

Today's guest, James Kimmel Jr., is a researcher at Yale School of Medicine and the author of The Science of Revenge. He'll discuss how revenge becomes addictive and why you shouldn't entertain the idea.

Some of the things we talk about today are:

Why revenge is a natural human craving and how it activates your brain's addiction pathways
How to recognize and break free from toxic revenge cycles
The surprising science behind forgiveness and why it’s better for you than revenge
A powerful mental exercise to help you move beyond resentment
How letting go of revenge can help you build resilience and mental strength

Want more tips for building mental strength? Subscribe to ⁠Mentally Stronger Premium⁠ and get weekly AMA episodes and monthly bonuses to help you grow mentally stronger!

Links & Resources

JamesKimmelJr.com

The Science of Revenge

Episode 182 — The Science of Forgiveness

Connect with the Show

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Connect with Amy on Instagram — ⁠⁠@AmyMorinAuthor⁠⁠

⁠AmyMorinLCSW.com ⁠

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