#069 - Revenge with James Kimmel, Jr.

#069 - Revenge with James Kimmel, Jr.

From Why Do We Do That? by Dr. Ryan Moyer

September 15, 2025 · 1h 3m · Episode 69

About this episode

Dr. Ryan Moyer discusses the science of revenge with lawyer and author James Kimmel, Jr.

In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with lawyer and author James Kimmel, Jr. about the science of revenge and his new book, The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction--and How to Overcome It. They discuss why the desire for revenge is nearly universal, the psychological forces that drive it, how it can mimic the addictive pull of drugs, the distinction between revenge and justice, and how forgiveness can be a powerful antidote to the urge for retaliation. For more on James, visit www.jameskimmeljr.com. Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work. Web | Patreon | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Ryan Moyer

Guest: James Kimmel, Jr.

Topics covered

  • revenge
  • psychology
  • forgiveness
  • addiction
  • justice
  • human behavior

Keywords

  • revenge
  • psychology
  • forgiveness
  • addiction
  • justice
  • human behavior
  • James Kimmel, Jr.

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction--and How to Overcome It

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