
Beyond Revenge
The Evolution of the Forgiveness Instinct
Michael E. McCullough(Author)
Jossey-Bass (Publisher)
Published on 1. April 2008
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-0-7879-7756-6 (ISBN)
Description
Why is revenge such a pervasive and destructive problem? How can we create a future in which revenge is less common and forgiveness is more common? Psychologist Michael McCullough argues that the key to a more forgiving, less vengeful world is to understand the evolutionary forces that gave rise to these intimately human instincts and the social forces that activate them in human minds today. Drawing on exciting breakthroughs from the social and biological sciences, McCullough dispenses surprising and practical advice for making the world a more forgiving place. Michael E. McCullough (Miami, Florida), an internationally recognized expert on forgiveness and revenge, is a professor of psychology at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, where he directs the Laboratory for Social and Clinical Psychology.
Reviews / Votes
"...this book will appeal to all those who wish to better understand forgiveness and how to engender it." (Publishers Weekly, February 11, 2008) '...hands out some startling and practical advice for making the world a more forgiving place.' (BBC Focus, October, 2010).More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 276 mm
Width: 158 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
506 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7879-7756-6 (9780787977566)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Michael E. McCullough is a professor of psychology at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, where he directs the Laboratory for Social and Clinical Psychology. His research is focused on human moral sentiments such as forgiveness, the desire for revenge, and gratitude. He also studies the evolutionary underpinnings and modern-day consequences of religious behavior.
Content
Acknowledgments. Introduction: Three Simple Truths About Revenge and Forgiveness. 1 Putting Vengeance and Forgiveness Back into Human Nature. 2 Revenge Is a Problem: Counting the Costs. 3 Revenge Is a Solution: Three Evolutionary Hypotheses. 4 The Retribution Solution: The Evidence for Adaptation. 5 Family, Friendship, and the Functions of Forgiveness. 6 The Forgiveness Instinct. 7 The Forgiving Brain. 8 "To Promote and to Maintain Friendly Relations": Making Forgiveness Happen. 9 From Neurons to Nations. 10 Divine Forgiveness and Righteous Revenge. 11 Homo ignoscens. Notes. Bibliography. The Author. Index.