A second possible mechanism can be drawn from deterrence theory
(McCullough, Kurzban, & Tabak, 2010, 2013). Deterrence theory assumes that revenge aims at preventing the original transgressor and
other would-be transgressors from committing similar offenses in the
future. Thus, deterrence theory would argue that the effect of perceived
entitativity on satisfaction after displaced revenge implies that other
potential transgressors have been successfully deterred from following
the original perpetrator's example