Revenge stories are making headlines. Three women in Wisconsin learned they were all romantically linked to the same man, and they sought to humiliate him. They allegedly tied him up in a motel room and applied superglue to his genitals.

 

Clara Harris used her Mercedes Benz to get back at her husband who was allegedly having an extra-marital affair.

One of the more horrific stories is that of 15-year-old Michael Brewer, who was doused with a flammable liquid and set ablaze. It was reportedly retaliation because he said that the assailants had stolen his dad's bike. The five accused have been charged, while Michael fights for his life.

 

In the studio, Dr. Phil is joined by defense attorney, Anthony Pope, and Dr. Gina Barreca, a revenge expert and writer of a weekly blog for Psychology Today. She is also the author of the book It’s Not That I’m Bitter… They comment on Michael's story. 

 

"This is something that sort of transcends the boundaries of civilization. I mean, civilization is sort of based on the idea that we don’t take individual revenge on this kind of scale. You don’t destroy the life of somebody the way that this child’s life was destroyed," Gina says. "You don’t have children doing this. This was a bunch of kids who were acting sort of like a gang, like a tribe. We want to get to revenge, let something go, so you can get over it and get on with your life."

 

"If I had a chance between talking to these boys or talking to the boys’ parents, I have to tell you, I would opt for the parents," Dr. Phil says. "What was the history here? What was going on?"