May 28, 2025
Ep. 469 Revenge Addiction: What You Need to Know with James Kimmel Jr., JD
Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+About this episode
Today, I am delighted to connect with James Kimmel Jr., a Yale psychiatry lecturer, a lawyer, and the founder and co-director of the Yale Collaborative for Motive Control Studies. In our conversation, we explore the science of revenge, examining how it affects the brain and identifying risk factors that could contribute to extremes in revenge activity. James shares his journey from childhood to law and academia and offers his perspective on the intersection of justice, neuroscience, and human behavior. We talk about forgiveness, exploring how it reshapes the brain, counteracts revenge addiction, and serves as a tool for healing. We also cover specific interventions, including the non-justice system and the warning signs for extremes in addictive behaviors. This invaluable and insightful conversation with James Kimmel Jr. is an incredible resource for moms everywhere. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How revenge impacts the brain How psychological harm can lead to revenge cravings The link between addiction and revenge-seeking Why some individuals are more at risk for revenge-seeking than others Some common forms of revenge-driven behavior What does a revenge attack look like? James shares how revenge motivated his choice to become a lawyer and how he came to do the work he does now The benefits of forgiveness as an antidote to revenge cravings How social media platforms exploit the addictive process of revenge-seeking Interventions and support systems for managing revenge addiction Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on X Instagram LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com Connect with James Kimmel Jr. On his website Buy a copy of James’ latest book, The Science of Revenge SavingCain.org : Preventing Murd