The Therapist's Encounters with Revenge and Forgiveness

Examining the "exploited-repressive" and "vindictive" reactions to a patient's actual or percieved abuse, this study looks at the concepts of vengeance, revenge fantasy and the granting or withholding of forgiveness, especially as expressed by children, adolescents and offenders.

Explores concepts of vengeance, revenge fantasies, and the granting or withholding of forgiveness as they are manifested to the therapist during treatment. Argues that revenge is usually expressed in one of two ways, and categorizes patients into two archetypes: the Exploited- Repressive Individual and the Vindictive Character. Includes separate chapters on revenge and forgiveness as they are expressed by children and adolescents, and by offenders.