Overview

Revenge: Narcissistic Injury, Rage, and Retaliation addresses the ubiquitous human wish to take revenge and settle scores. Featuring the contributions of eleven distinguished mental health professionals, it offers a panoramic and yet deep perspective on the real or imagined narcissistic injury that often underlies fantasies of revenge and the behavioral trait of vindictiveness. It describes various types of revenge and introduces the concept of a ‘good-enough revenge.’ Deftly blending psychoanalysis, ethology, religious studies, literary criticism, and clinical experience, the book goes a long way to enhance empathy with patients struggling with hurt, pain, and desires to get even with their tormentors. This volume is of great clinical value indeed!

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9780765710130

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Reviews

The cycle of humiliation, revenge, and counter-revenge is a central paradigm which plagues our species. Finally there is a fascinating study of this all too human phenomenon which draws on the insights of child development, psychoanalytic experience, great literature, and biological considerations. Written by premier clinicians and theoreticians, this book is both very rich in ideas and is very readable. Therapists at all levels of experience will learn much from this text and become more able to address these issues in treatment. -- Ira Brenner, MD, Jefferson Medical College Revenge is a ubiquitous human emotional experience, frequently fantasized, sometimes enacted, and yet it is all too rarely examined in depth. This book explores the relationship of revenge with narcissistic injury, rage, and retaliation. Sandwiched between an extensive overview of the topic by Akhtar and a critical examination of theories of aggression with case examples by Parens are eight excellent papers that range from relevant clinical case reports to literary and biopsychocultural perspectives. Indeed, as these contributors underline, the feeling of revenge can be either an adaptive response or pathological especially when enacted. Readers will gain in knowledge and therapeutic skills by delving into this stimulating and very worthwhile book. -- Mary Kay O'Neil, PhD, Canadian Psychoanalytic Association

Author Information

Salman Akhtar, MD, is a professor of psychiatry at Jefferson Medical College. He is also a training and supervising analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. Henri Parens, MD, is a professor of psychiatry at Jefferson Medical College. He is also a training and supervising analyst at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia.

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