Description
Book SynopsisCommunicating Revenge in Interpersonal Relationships explores how and why people take revenge on others in modern social life. Stephen M. Yoshimura and Susan D. Boon draw from research across academic disciplines to show the times and places at which revenge occurs, the types of acts that people engage in, and the psychological and social effects revenge can have on both receivers and avengers in various interpersonal relationship contexts, including romantic relationships, professional relationships, families, and friendships. The authors also review various methods of conducting empirical research on revenge, provide a theoretical account to explain why revenge occurs when it does, and discuss ethical and philosophical issues surrounding its practice.
Trade ReviewAs the title implies, Stephen M. Yoshimura and Susan D. Boon examine revenge as more than just an emotion or behavior but as an intentional method of communicating and establishing meaning within a variety of interpersonal relationships. In addition to detailing an insightful theory of revenge, they examine variables that both impel and impede revenge. Both professionals from a variety of disciplines and lay readers will find much to gain from reading this book. -- Robin Kowalski, Clemson University
Revenge is one of the most fascinating and perplexing phenomena in human and non-human societies. Yoshimura and Boon have taken on the challenge to give a comprehensive overview of the latest research on revenge. They have accomplished this task extraordinarily well. Communicating Revenge in Interpersonal Relationships will be a standard text about revenge, and, hopefully, it will inspire students and researchers alike to dig deeper into the psychological and social processes involved in vengeful acts. -- Mario Gollwitzer, Philipps-Universität Marburg
Leading experts Yoshimura and Boon provide a superb overview of the current state of scholarly knowledge regarding revenge. Based on interdisciplinary research both classic and contemporary, this book presents a comprehensive synthesis of revenge research across various contexts that is situated squarely in the perspective of revenge as a communicative activity. Conceptualizations, operationalizations, strategies, and theoretical foundations of revenge are reviewed in an accessible and relatable manner, culminating with the authors’ development of a compelling goal-based theory of the revenge process that is sure to be a focus of future revenge research. Yoshimura and Boon’s Communicating Revenge in Interpersonal Relationships is a vital addition to the available sourcebooks on topics that are often studied from a dark side perspective. -- Megan R. Dillow, West Virginia University
Table of ContentsContents Preface Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: The Contexts and Expressions of Revenge Chapter 3: Ways of Studying Revenge Chapter 4: Theoretical Foundations for Understanding Revenge Chapter 5: Toward a Theory of the Revenge Process Chapter 6: To What Ends? Thoughts on the Bright and Dark Sides of Revenge References About the Authors
