When bullied, nearly everyone's first instinct is to fight back! However, the brain assesses the disparity in strength between both parties before deciding whether to act immediately. After all, bullying the weak and fearing the strong are survival instincts evolved through evolution. Those who dare not retaliate face-to-face aren't necessarily willing to take losses; they may instead resort to underhanded tactics to sabotage their adversary.In short, the desire for retribution is universal. Despite modern laws and ethics actively promoting legal channels and greater tolerance when problems arise, nothing can truly stop people from wanting to take matters into their own hands when faced with injustice.Is the desire for revenge one of humanity's darker psychological traits? Not necessarily. As the saying goes, "He who does not avenge himself is no gentleman." Confucianism emphasizes benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and integrity, teaching us not to impose on others what we ourselves do not desire. The gentleman repays grievances with justice. Confucianism, which dominated Chinese culture throughout its long history, held that justified revenge was not wrong, showing that in ancient times, retaliation was accepted.Many wars erupted from mutual retaliation between combatants, and revenge has played a pivotal role throughout human history. Some scholars contend that retaliation maintains social order by punishing injustice. In primitive societies, without laws stipulating "an eye for an eye" or restitution for theft, such crimes proliferated, severely undermining the survival of early humans.Primitive retaliation served as a warning: killing our kin or stealing our food demands equal retribution, deterring future transgressions. The fear instilled by retaliation fostered essential social cooperation, enabling human survival.
While retaliation retains its warning function, modern perspectives emphasize its role in restoring psychological balance for victims by compensating for harm suffered.This represents one of humanity's self-regulation mechanisms—venting, specifically directed at a particular target. Successful venting naturally brings relief, though this does not include retaliation against society that harms the innocent.
Furthermore, retaliatory actions taken in response to injustice activate the brain's reward centers, inducing feelings of pleasure. This explains why audiences find it satisfying to see villains receive retribution in films and television.