Goals and emotional outcomes of revenge activities in interpersonal relationships

Abstract

This study investigated reported goals involved in, and emotional outcomes resulting from, the process of enacting revenge activities against interpersonal relationship partners. Participants ( N = 152) responded to questionnaires in which they described activities used to express revenge against a relational partner, the importance of several goals relevant to their retaliatory expressions, and the types of emotional outcomes they experienced upon reflecting on their activities. Results indicate that reported revenge activities are distinguished by goals reflecting an overarching desire to dominate targets. Although respondents reported experiencing anger, fearful anxiety, positivity, and remorse after enacting revenge, remorse was particularly strong following the initiation of new relationships, defaming the target’s reputation, and removing the target’s personal resources.