The Psychology of Revenge: Why is it Secretly Rewarding

You’ve probably felt the need for vengeance sometime in your life. It’s a powerful feeling. One you might experience when you’ve been wronged and want to punish the offender. This desire is wired within us.

Did you know that in 1964, Warren Buffet bought Berkshire Hathaway out of spite? He had previously bought stock in the textile company as it was in decline, figuring he could sell it back to them after they closed and make a profit. So the boss agrees to buy Buffett’s stock for 11.50. Except a couple of weeks later when the paperwork comes through, the offer is different. It’s 11.375. They cheated him out of ⅛.

Buffett literally bought all the stock he could find of this company and eventually became the controlling partner. Once he did, he fired the guy who wronged him ⅛ of that offer.

In 1964 Warren Buffet bought an entire company to fire one guy.

Now let’s learn what we’ve figured out about the science of retribution.

So what exactly is it?

Revenge is the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands