Anger

Rage, Aggression

What Is Anger?

Anger is one of the basic human emotions, as elemental as happiness, sadness, anxiety, or disgust. These emotions are tied to basic survival and were honed over the course of human history. Anger is related to the “fight, flight, or freeze” response of the sympathetic nervous system; it prepares humans to fight. But fighting doesn't necessarily mean throwing punches; it might motivate communities to combat injustice by changing laws or enforcing new behavioral norms.

Of course, anger too easily or frequently mobilized can undermine relationships and it can be deleterious to bodies in the long term. Prolonged release of the stress hormones that accompany anger can destroy neurons in areas of the brain associated with judgment and short-term memory, and weaken the immune system.

How Do I Control My Anger?

Everyone knows the feeling. It's that rage that rises when a driver is cut off on the highway—and just wants to floor it and flip the bird. Anger doesn't dissipate just because it is unleashed; in fact, that can reinforce and deepen it.

Like all emotions, anger should be monitored via self-awareness, lest it cause self-harm or erupt into hostile, aggressive, or even violent behavior toward others. Support groups for anger management are available in many cities. In group or individual settings, cognitive restructuring may be helpful, as it coaches patients on reframing unhealthy, inflammatory thoughts.

CONNECTED TOPICS

Emotional Intelligence, Self-Help, Self-Control

When Is Anger a Disorder?

Everyone experiences anger at some point. It becomes problematic, however, when the frequency or severity of anger interferes with relationships, work performance, legal standing, or mental health. While there is no official “anger disorder,” dysfunctional anger can be a symptom of manic episodes, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Anger doesn't require a formal diagnosis to be disruptive, or to benefit from help with its management.

CONNECTED TOPICS

Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Personality Disorders

Essential Reads

The Angry Self-Concept in Borderline Personality Disorder

By Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D. on February 01, 2020 in Fulfillment at Any Age

Difficulties in anger control are known to be part of borderline personality disorder. New research on self-concept shows how that anger can turn inward toward themselves.

Difficulties in anger control are known to be part of borderline personality disorder. New research on self-concept shows how that anger can turn inward toward themselves.

Can Men Be Victims of Intimate Partner Violence?

By David Ludden Ph.D. on January 27, 2020 in Talking Apes

Men have no monopoly on aggression, and they can often be the victims of violent acts in the home.

Men have no monopoly on aggression, and they can often be the victims of violent acts in the home.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C., 1963

Hardwired to Hate?

By Melissa Shepard MD on January 20, 2020 in Erasing Stigma

Hatred is a complex phenomenon that activates the very deepest brain regions. But that doesn't mean we are doomed to hate.

Hatred is a complex phenomenon that activates the very deepest brain regions. But that doesn't mean we are doomed to hate.

Are You Interested in Ridding Yourself of All Resentment?

By Robert Enright Ph.D. on January 20, 2020 in The Forgiving Life

Resentments can live with us for years. If someone bullied you when you were an adolescent, the sting of this might still be present. Yet, the residual effects of anger can leave.

Resentments can live with us for years. If someone bullied you when you were an adolescent, the sting of this might still be present. Yet, the residual effects of anger can leave.

Recent Posts

Embracing Anxiety: "The Ring of Fire"

By David Hanscom, MD on February 05, 2020 in Anxiety: Another Name for Pain

Many of us spend our life energy avoiding feeling anxious. Eventually, you'll wear down. Learning to assimilate it into your life will help you create the life you want.

Many of us spend our life energy avoiding feeling anxious. Eventually, you'll wear down. Learning to assimilate it into your life will help you create the life you want.

8 Responses to Anger and Hatred

By Susan Heitler Ph.D. on February 04, 2020 in Resolution, Not Conflict

What are your options when someone berates or hates you? How do you protect yourself?

What are your options when someone berates or hates you? How do you protect yourself?

Eroticized Rage

By Robert Weiss Ph.D., MSW on February 03, 2020 in Love and Sex in the Digital Age

Rather than looking at eroticized rage that manifests as pathology, this post looks at eroticized rage as an element of safe, fun, and hot sex.

Rather than looking at eroticized rage that manifests as pathology, this post looks at eroticized rage as an element of safe, fun, and hot sex.

11 Signs You Use Passive-Aggressiveness in Your Relationships

By Andrea Brandt Ph.D. M.F.T. on February 03, 2020 in Mindful Anger

To find out if you suffer from hidden anger, consider the questions in this post.

To find out if you suffer from hidden anger, consider the questions in this post.

When Your Child Says, "I Want to Kill Myself"

By Meri Wallace LCSW on February 02, 2020 in How to Raise a Happy, Cooperative Child

Helping your child to express their anger is crucial. Here's what you can do if your child expresses suicidal ideation.

Helping your child to express their anger is crucial. Here's what you can do if your child expresses suicidal ideation.

How to Handle a Hot Temper

The Hopping Mad

The Cycle of Rage

The Anger Habit

Switching Off Anger

The 60-Second Anger Experiment

By Jeffrey S. Nevid Ph.D., ABPP on February 02, 2020 in The Minute Therapist

Bet you can't do it.

Bet you can't do it.

Why Isn't Anyone Doing Something? Polyvagal Theory–Frozen

By David Hanscom, MD on February 02, 2020 in Anxiety: Another Name for Pain

Society is deeply divided and manifested by an inability to rationally solve differences. This behavior can be explained by the "shut down" phase presented by The Polyvagal Theory

Society is deeply divided and manifested by an inability to rationally solve differences. This behavior can be explained by the "shut down" phase presented by The Polyvagal Theory

The Angry Self-Concept in Borderline Personality Disorder

By Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D. on February 01, 2020 in Fulfillment at Any Age

Difficulties in anger control are known to be part of borderline personality disorder. New research on self-concept shows how that anger can turn inward toward themselves.

Difficulties in anger control are known to be part of borderline personality disorder. New research on self-concept shows how that anger can turn inward toward themselves.

The Kübler-Ross Model and Five Stages of "Groundhog Day"

By Travis Langley Ph.D. on January 31, 2020 in Beyond Heroes and Villains

Did "Groundhog Day" screenwriter Danny Rubin use Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's model of the five stages of grieving as a template for Phil's personal progress over the course of his time loop?

Did "Groundhog Day" screenwriter Danny Rubin use Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's model of the five stages of grieving as a template for Phil's personal progress over the course of his time loop?

How Psychological Flexibility Diminishes Destructive Anger

By Bernard Golden, Ph.D. on January 31, 2020 in Overcoming Destructive Anger

Do you react to rather than respond to your anger? Cultivating psychological flexibility offers you a more constructive way of responding to this highly charged emotion.

Do you react to rather than respond to your anger? Cultivating psychological flexibility offers you a more constructive way of responding to this highly charged emotion.

Meet Psychology Today's Bloggers on Anger

Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., is a Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her latest book is The Search for Fulfillment.

David Ludden, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at Georgia Gwinnett College.

Melissa Shepard, MD, is an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Robert Enright, Ph.D., is a professor of educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a licensed psychologist who pioneered the social scientific study of forgiveness.