It may also lead to compliance by others. Anger tells others it is important to listen to us-that we feel agitated and it is wise to be alert to our words and actions. The positives include its alerting function. Anger may also lead to better outcomes in business negotiations as well as an increased motivation to right the wrongs we see in the world. No doubt, anger played a useful part in social movements for equality for blacks, the elderly and women, among others. Many of these, however, are short-term benefits as few of us like to spend time with angry people.Īnger can be an appropriate response to injustice.
It had survival value in the past and it has some positives in the present. It is part of the fight-or-flight reaction. Yet, anger is part of our biological history. Many of the longer-term outcomes of anger are negative. What are some of the positive aspects of anger? Anger is associated with interpersonal conflicts, negative evaluations by others, erratic driving, property destruction, occupational maladjustment, inappropriate risk taking, accidents, substance abuse, and so-called crimes of passion. Yet, anger is an important problem in its own right with negative consequences in many aspects of life such as marriages, the workplace, parent-child interactions, and driving behavior. Also, there is sometimes an impulse to engage in problem solving behaviors when angry. People often want to act aggressively when angry but, fortunately, most do not actually take aggressive actions. However, only 10% of anger experiences are actually followed by aggression. Our research shows that about 90 percent of aggressive incidents are preceded by anger. Since anger is typically expressed only through loud verbalizations, it is the cases of aggression that wind up in the criminal justice system. Aggression can be shown by punching, shoving, hitting or even maiming another person, and it can occur in marital violence, child or elder abuse, bullying, or gang and criminal activities. In the cases I see in my clinical and research work, weapons are often involved. Often, it reflects a desire for dominance and control. Sometimes, anger is not expressed externally but remains as internal rumination.Īggression, in contrast, refers to intentional behavior that aims to harm another person. However, anger can also be expressed physically by raising a clenched fist, throwing a book on the floor, breaking a pencil or hitting a wall. The verbal expressions include yelling, arguing, cursing, and sarcasm. In addition, the verbal and physical expressions of anger may serve as a warning to others about our displeasure. Our data indicate that about 25 percent of anger incidents involve thoughts of revenge such as, “I’m going to spread rumors about my boss to get even,” or “I’d like to just bump her car to put her in her place.” Interestingly, anger usually emerges from interactions with people we like or love, such as children, spouses, and close friends.Īngry thoughts may be accompanied by muscle tension, headaches or an increased heart rate. She shouldn’t be allowed to drive on the freeway!” Anger energizes us to retaliate. He shouldn’t be so disrespectful!”or “That woman in front of me is driving so slowly. Anger involves certain styles of thinking such as, “My boss criticized me in front of my colleagues. It usually develops in response to the unwanted actions of another person who is perceived to be disrespectful, demeaning, threatening or neglectful. They also can provide ways to deal with anger when it does occur.Īnger-expert psychologist Howard Kassinove, PhD, answers the following questions about anger: What is anger and how does it differ from aggression?Īnger is a negative feeling state that is typically associated with hostile thoughts, physiological arousal and maladaptive behaviors. Psychologists can help people recognize and avoid anger triggers. Yet the causes, effects and ways to control anger are sometimes not well understood. Everyone knows what it feels like to be angry.
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