Beyond revenge: the evolution of the forgiveness instinct

Acknowledgments. Introduction: Three Simple Truths About Revenge and Forgiveness. 1 Putting Vengeance and Forgiveness Back into Human Nature. 2 Revenge Is a Problem: Counting the Costs. 3 Revenge Is a Solution: Three Evolutionary Hypotheses. 4 The Retribution Solution: The Evidence for Adaptation. 5 Family, Friendship, and the Functions of Forgiveness. 6 The Forgiveness Instinct. 7 The Forgiving Brain. 8 To Promote and to Maintain Friendly Relations: Making Forgiveness Happen. 9 From Neurons to Nations. 10 Divine Forgiveness and Righteous Revenge. 11 Homo ignoscens. Notes. Bibliography. The Author. Index.