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 heart WV Theme...              #17A / 17B                ...individual<--->individual

 BITTERNESS & VENGEANCE / GRATITUDE & FORGIVENESS

If my current state is less than desired, I can focus on what’s wrong or what’s right. I can feel bitter, angry, resentful, and look to assign blame, or I can be grateful that I am alive, hopeful that my plight will improve, and determined to make it so. Similarly, I have two responses to feeling victimized: I can seek revenge and punish those responsible, or I can offer forgiveness, make peace with what happened, unload emotional baggage, and perhaps even make some good flow from evil. (Note: Bringing religion into this, those worshiping a spiteful Old Testament God may opt for vengeance and “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” while those worshiping a loving New Testament “turn the other cheek” God, may be lenient and forgiving.)

Related Words, Beliefs, Background -- 35 entries               Discussion from The Worldview Literacy Book

WV Theme #17A: Bitterness & Vengeance --Alternate Concise Characterization with Wikipedia Entries

feels Resentment or Bitterness feels Anger  
often looks to assign Blame or caught up in blaming values An Eye for An Eye type of justice  

summary Wikipedia article: Revenge  

 

WV Theme #17B: Gratitude & Forgiveness --Alternate Concise Characterization with Wikipedia Entries

possesses Psychological Resilience values Gratitude 
embraces Forgiveness values Turning the Other Cheek response to being hurt or victimized 
 

More to Explore -- Worldview Theme #17A : Bitterness & Vengeance  

Retributive Justice (from online encyclopedia)
The Problem of Evil (from online encyclopedia)
Rape and Revenge Films (from online encyclopedia)
When Bad Things Happen to Good People, by Harold Kushner (problem of evil--Jewish rabbi's perspective)
Source of Religious Hatred
Splintered Heart, Maddened Hand: The Inner Dynamics of Vengeance
Retributive Justice (article by Michelle Maiese)
The Ten Best Revenge Movies of All Time by Robert Levin (2009 list with paragraph descriptions of each)
Thoughts on Revenge and Retribution: Retributive Justice (article by J. Daryl Charles)
Retribution and Reconciliation (article by David Crocker)
The Psychology of Victimhood
Justice Not Vengeance (website for this organization)
The Golden Rule, Ethic of Reciprocity, and the Wiccan Rede, by V. Crabtree 
"Revenge is Sweet," by Regina Barreca, (article in February 2010 issue of Psychology Today)
A Passion for Justice: Emotions and the Origins of the Social Contract, by Robert  Solomon (read excerpts on Google Books)
quotes related to revenge

More to Explore -- Worldview Theme #17B: Gratitude & Forgiveness

Grief (from online encyclopedia)
Foregiveness Forum
The Forgiveness Project
The Campaign for Love and Forgiveness
Gratitude and Forgiveness (this entry on Positive Psychology News Daily provides links to several articles) 
Beyond Revenge: The Evolution of the Forgiveness Instinct, by Michael McCullough (more on this 2008 book)
Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Feel Happier, by Robert Emmons (2007 book)
The Gift of Forgiveness, by Carl Scovel (a Unitarian Universalist perspective)
Gratitude, by Norman Fischer (on gratefulness.org website)
The Heart of Our Faith, by Galen Guengerich  (a Unitarian Universalist perspective on gratitude)
A Scientifically Proven Way to be Happy, by Laura Rowley
Rx for Life: Gratitude, by Gregg Easterbrook
Prayers of Gratitude from Different Religious Traditions
Gratitude (on Hope Allianz Inc -- Counseling & Healing Center -- website)
Spirituality and Health: Forgiveness
Healing -- The Heart of the Conflict, by Marc Gopin
Forgiveness: How to Let Go of Grudges and Bitterness, by Katherine Piderman  (article, Mayo Clinic website)
Give Yourself Up, by Kim K. Crawford Harvie (thoughts on forgiveness by Unitarian Universalist minister)
The Forgiveness Web -- Links, Resources related to Forgiveness
Forgive for Good, by Fred Luskin  (interview with him about the book on this site)
quotes related to gratitude
quotes related to forgiveness

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