Displaced aggression, or making somebody pay if you've been hurt, turns out to be (ugh) good for you.
(A) Rats subjected to electroshocks with no outlet for their suffering developed swollen adrenal glands.
(B) Rats subjected to electroshocks in the same cage, who "took it out" by mindlessly fighting each other through their pain, did *not* develop swollen adrenal glands--they "discharged" their stress (even though really stupidly and destructively). "By passing their pain along, such animals ministered to their own needs."
(C) You do the math.
Yes--being a vengeful, horrible asshole helps you in life. Kicking the dog makes you healthier. And if you kick, not the dog, but another human being, it doesn't just lower your blood pressure, it raises your social status:
"Individuals who respond to painful situations by striking out at someone else have been more successful than those who sit back and 'take it,' because such individuals are less likely to be victimized the next time around. ...Evolution would most likely reward victims who--even if unable to retaliate against the actual perpetrator--conspicuously 'take it out' on someone else."
So what about the someone else? The one who doesn't pass it on, who doesn't kick the dog or the child or the next person to hand?
"Were you born to resist or be abused? Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?" (Foo Fighters, "Best Of You")
Sucks.
