| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science |
| Editors | Todd K Shackelford & Viviana A Weekes-Shackelford |
| Place of Publication | Switzerland |
| Publisher | Springer International Publishing Switzerland |
| Pages | 297 - 301 |
| Volume | 1 |
| Edition | 1st |
| ISBN (Print) | 9783319169996 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2020 |
Abstract
The concept of retaliation has historically been defined from both a behavioral and functional aspect. At its core, retaliation is based upon the premise of inciting organisms to increase benefit while reducing cost to oneself (McCullough et al. 2013). If a target organism can emit the potential ideal for retaliation toward an aggressor organism (typically in the form of retaliation itself), the target organism may increase its chances of lifetime productivity and may continue to evolve due to this willingness to retaliate. In other words, by making the potential costs of harm too high for an aggressor (imminent retaliation), the target organism is more likely to survive by avoiding harm against oneself.