Envy arouses questions about fairness and unequal distribution of resources. Scavenging for hidden treasures and exploiting the acquisition of what is perceived to be free also imply underlying envy and greed. Envy, in isolation, can be destructive to psychological processes. Endowments of envy, however, are not as bleak and unsparing as they at first may appear. Envy, recognized and intelligently managed, transforms and may spur admiration, emulation, aspiration, empathy, and developmental advantages. Here, Ninivaggi offers a theory of envy and explores various ideas and concepts related to it. He proposes research paradigms for testability, advances principles and guidelines for pragmatic applications in psychotherapies and psychoeducation, and considers new paths for further discovery.

"Growing out of and expanding on the seminal work of Melanie Klein (in particular, the essays collected in Envy and Gratitude, 1957) and other psychoanalytic writers—and drawing on the author's extensive clinical experience with children and adults—this book presents a new theory of the psychodynamics of envy and its role in both healthy and unhealthy personality development. Ninivaggi, a psychiatrist who has also published books on Ayurvedic medicine (e.g., Ayurveda: A Comprehensive Guide to Traditional Indian Medicine for the West, 2008), proposes that envy, both unconscious and conscious, is a powerful human force that structures relationships with others, particularly those closest to one. Along with what he calls "primary love," envy is evident at the very beginning of the infant's attachment to the mother and is the expression of a "primitive, innate destructiveness." Envy, according to the author, has many manifestations and is deeply woven into life at many levels, from an individual's thoughts and feelings to mythology and religion. Those outside the psychoanalytic realm may find some of the author's conclusions challenging. This is, nevertheless, a nuanced and creative exploration of one of the most complex emotions. Summing Up: Recommended." - CHOICE