Does society approve of revenge? Yes, but not all the time. The determining factor of whether you get a pat on the back or a slap on the wrist depends on how the perpetrator of said revenge feels: Feelings of satisfaction receive social approval but those of pleasure are looked down upon by the polis, according to this recent study.

Satisfaction vs pleasure. Satisfaction is seen as a sign of competence — it’s like giving a thumbs-up to someone who’s managed to accomplish what they set out to do. But pleasure? That’s a whole different story, since people who feel pleasure after exacting their revenge are usually judged harshly, suggesting that maybe the avenger’s motives aren’t as noble as we’d like to believe…

…and it doesn’t end there. Cultural norms and individual perspectives play a significant role in shaping our attitudes towards revenge. Societies that prioritize honor lead people to be more forgiving of the avenger. And when it comes to judging our own actions versus those of others, things get even more complicated — it turns out we’re a lot harder on ourselves than the people around us.

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