The Nature of ANGER!
What is Anger and why do we get angry?
Anger is usually considered to be one of the core human emotions. While there are hundreds of emotional states, researchers have posited a few universal ‘basic’ emotions that have helped the human race survive. According to one influential pair these emotions are happiness, anxiety, sadness, anger and disgust.Anger has evolved for good reason. Throughout our individual and collective history, survival has depended on the energy and motivation generated by feelings of anger, triggering our desire to fight for change. It is important to note that ‘fight’ and ‘attack’ do not in this context mean acts of physical aggression, but any response to a stimulus that is designed to right a perceived wrong.
Key things make us angry
1. Interruption of goal-directed behavior when time is important2. Experiencing personal degradation or unfair treatment and being powerless to stop it3. Being treated unfairly, unkindly or in a prejudicial way, whether or not one is present4. Being the object of dishonesty or broken promises, being disappointed by others or oneself5. Having one’s authority, feelings or property disregarded by others6. Being ignored or treated badly by a significant other7. Experiencing harm because of one’s negligence towards oneself8. Being shown by others’ behavior that they do not care9. Being the object of verbal or physical assault10. Being a ‘helpless victim’Although anger can lead to aggressive acts, anger and aggression can exist independently of one another. Anger can be described as an emotional state, while aggression is a type of behavior. One in eight Americans (12%) say that they have trouble controlling their own anger to the point of aggressive acts.
The Most popular form of anger (Road Rage)
90% of drivers have experienced road rage.60% admitted to losing their temper behind the wheel.62% said aggressive tailgating was most common form59% headlight flashing48% obscene gestures21% deliberate obstruction16% verbal abuse1% physical assault1 in 4 adults have committed an act of road rage.Men are 3 times more likely to commit an aggressive act than women.1 in 5 acts involved intimidating driving, 61% verbal abuse, 50% aggressive hand gestures30% of aggression is perpetuated by people in the 25-34 age group
Anger Management
Anger has no quick and easy solution that can be summarized in one simple step. How ever there are resources such as; relaxation training, cognitive restructuring and self-instructional training, rehearsal of new positive behaviors to resolve conflict such as assertiveness training and aggression-replacement training, and multi-modal treatments that include cognitive and behavioral interventions.