Why getting revenge on an ex feels so good: Study reveals how small acts of retaliation can be fun and guilt-free

If you've ever fantasised about finally putting an annoying ex, backstabbing colleague or rude neighbour in their place, you're not alone.While revenge is often portrayed as a destructive impulse that leaves people feeling guilty or ashamed, new research suggests the reality may be very different.Psychologists found that getting even is typically associated with feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and a renewed sense of control.And the evidence suggests people tend to enjoy revenge more than they are willing to admit.The findings challenge the popular belief that retaliation inevitably leaves people feeling worse in the long run.'Both enacted and envisioned revenge were associated with pleasant feelings,' the researchers wrote in the journal Emotion.'This association was observed across different measurement types and assessment times, although it was stronger when feelings were assessed during revenge than shortly after revenge, suggesting that the pleasure of revenge fades with time.' In The First Wives Club, three women get their own back on the ex-husbands who left them for younger partners. Scientists say this impulse can feel surprisingly rewardingFor their study, the team, from the University of Würzburg in Germany, examined 54 existing pieces of research involving around 14,600 people.Rather than dramatic scores being settled, the studies focused on petty acts of retaliation sparked by everyday disputes.Some of the studies focused on symbolic retaliation, with participants taking out their frustrations on voodoo dolls rather than real people.Others asked volunteers to imagine getting revenge on someone who had wronged them or to recall past experiences in which they had actually done so.Analysis revealed that those who got their own back typically reported feelings of satisfaction, pleasure and a renewed sense of control, with few signs of lingering regret.The researchers also discovered that people appeared to enjoy revenge more than they let on.Although participants were often reluctant to admit how rewarding it felt, scans of brain activity and analyses of facial expressions pointed to a great sense of gratification.Social media is awash with tips on how to get revenge on others. Some say people 'do you so dirty' that they need a taste of your own medicine Scientists say getting even can bring feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and control. In Gladiator (pictured) Maximus vows revenge on the emperor who murdered his family'These findings suggest that revenge is particularly pleasant during the act itself, supporting the reinforcement model of revenge and providing little evidence that revenge is followed by pronounced unpleasant emotional aftertaste,' the scientists wrote.Despite the findings, the researchers are not urging people to start settling scores.Although revenge may provide a short-lived sense of satisfaction, they warn it can quickly sour relationships and provoke a fresh round of retaliation.Many of the studies gave volunteers limited options beyond getting even, whereas in real life people can choose forgiveness, compromise or simply moving on.The experts say maintaining important relationships and avoiding unnecessary conflict may ultimately be worth more than the fleeting pleasure of payback.'There are other things beyond your own mood and feelings,' Dr Dyduch-Hazar told The Times. 'Such as harmony, alliances and the safety of other people.' in The Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantès devotes years to settling scores with the men who betrayed himResearchers have previously argued that desire for revenge may actually be an ancient human instinct that evolved for a surprisingly practical reason.Psychologists say that vengeance can serve an important social function by discouraging people from taking advantage of others.If someone stole food, broke a promise or betrayed an ally, failing to respond could invite further mistreatment.A willingness to retaliate may therefore have helped individuals protect themselves and maintain their standing within the group.A separate study by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University found that 58 per cent of people prefer to take revenge immediately rather than wait for a bigger opportunity to get even later.However, the researchers also found that some people were willing to delay retaliation for a harsher payoff, particularly those who tended to dwell on past grievances and showed more antagonistic personality traits.