Beyond revenge : the evolution of the forgiveness instinct / Michael E. McCullough.
McCullough, Michael E.
2008
BF637.R48 M43 2008 (Mapit)
Available at General Collection

Items

Details

Title Beyond revenge : the evolution of the forgiveness instinct / Michael E. McCullough.
Author McCullough, Michael E.
Edition 1st ed.
ISBN 9780787977566
078797756X
Imprint San Francisco, CA : Jossey-Bass, c2008.
Language English
Description xix, 298 p. ; 24 cm.
Call Number BF637.R48 M43 2008
Dewey Decimal Classification 155.9/2
Summary "Contrary to conventional wisdom, McCullough contends that the desire for revenge should not be likened to a "disease" or a "poison" that makes people do terrible things to each other. Instead, he argues, natural selection created our penchant for revenge because it helped our ancestors solve social dilemmas they encountered during human evolution. Revenge, according to McCullough, is a "problem" for us today because "it was a "solution" during our ancestral past." "McCullough also debunks the misconception that forgiveness should be likened to an "antidote" or a "cure" for the desire for revenge. Instead, he argues, humans' capacity to forgive evolved because it helped our ancestors preserve relationships with genetic relatives and other valuable relationship partners. McCullough goes on to argue that when we encounter the social circumstances that activated the "forgiveness instinct" in the ancestral past, modern-day humans will be naturally inclined to forgive, often with less effort than we usually assume."--BOOK JACKET.
Bibliography, etc. Note Includes bibliographical references and index.
Linked Resources Publisher description
Contributor biographical information
Table of contents only
Record Appears in On-Campus Resources > Books
All Resources
Introduction: Three simple truths about revenge and forgiveness
Putting vengeance and forgiveness back into human nature
Revenge is a problem : counting the costs
Revenge is a solution : three evolutionary hypotheses
The retribution solution : the evidence for adaptation
Family, friendship, and the functions of forgiveness
The forgiveness instinct
The forgiving brain
To promote and to maintain friendly relations : making forgiveness happen
From neurons to nations
Divine forgiveness and righteous revenge
Homo ignoscens.

Browse Subjects

Show more subjects...

Statistics

from
to
Export