Sei sulla pagina 1di 4

ANGER MANAGEMENT

Anger is a normal, healthy emotion that serves as a warning signal and alerts us to potential
threat or trauma. It triggers energy that sets us up for a good fight or quick flight, and can
range from mild irritation to hot, fiery energy. Anger is an emotion characterized by
antagonism toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done you
wrong. Anger can be a good thing. It can give you a way to express negative feelings, for
example, or motivate you to find solutions to problems. But excessive anger can cause
problems. Warren (1990) outlines some fundamental points about anger:
1. Anger is not a primary emotion, but it is typically experienced as an almost automatic inner
response to hurt, frustration, or fear.
2. Anger is physiological arousal. It instills feelings of power and generates preparedness.
3. Anger and aggression are significantly different.
4. The expression of anger is learned.
5. The expression of anger can come under personal control.

DEFINITION :

Anger is an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and
rage. It is accompanied by physiological and biological changes, such as increases in heart
rate, blood pressure, and levels of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine

(American Psychological Association, 2006a)

“A strong feeling that makes you want to hurt someone or be unpleasant because of
something unfair or unkind that has happened.”

( Cambridge English dictionary )

Anger is a very powerful emotion. When it is denied or buried, it can precipitate a number of
physical problems such as migraine headaches, ulcers, colitis, and even coronary heart
disease. When turned inward on oneself, anger can result in depression and low self-esteem.
When it is expressed inappropriately, it commonly interferes

with relationships. When suppressed, anger may turn into resentment, which often manifests
itself in negative, passive–aggressive behaviour.

FUNCTIONS OF ANGER

Positive /constructive functions of anger


 Anger energizes and mobilizes the body for self-defense.
 Communicated assertively, anger can promote conflict resolution.
 Anger arousal is a personal signal of threat or injustice against the self. The signal
elicits coping responses to deal with the distress. Anger is constructive when it
provides a feeling of control over a situation and the individual is able to assertively
take charge of a situation.
 Anger is constructive when it is expressed assertively, serves to increase self-esteem,
and leads to mutual understanding and forgiveness.

Negative destructive use of anger :


 Without cognitive input, anger may result in impulsive behavior, disregarding
possible negative consequences. Communicated passive–aggressively or
aggressively, conflict escalates, and the problem that created the conflict goes
unresolved.
 Anger can lead to aggression when the coping response is displacement. Anger
can be destructive if it is discharged against an object or person unrelated to the
true target of the anger.
 Anger can be destructive when the feeling of control is exaggerated and the
individual uses the power to intimidate others.
 Anger can be destructive when it masks honest feelings, weakens self-esteem, and
leads to hostility and rage.

AGGRESSION

The term anger often takes on a negative connotation because of its link with aggression.
Aggression is one way individuals express anger. It is sometimes used to try to force
someone into compliance with the aggressor’s wishes, but at other times the only objective
seems to be the infliction of punishment and pain. In virtually all instances, aggression is a
negative function or destructive use of anger.

Aggression refers to behavior that is intended to harm another individual. Violence


is aggression that creates extreme physical harm. Emotional or impulsive aggression refers
to aggression that occurs with only a small amount of forethought or intent. Instrumental or
cognitive aggression is intentional and planned.

In psychology and other social and behavioral sciences, aggression refers to behavior that is
intended to cause harm or pain. Aggression can be either physical or verbal, and behavior is
classified as aggression even if it does not actually succeed in causing harm or pain. Behavior
that accidentally causes harm or pain is not aggression.
DEFINITION :

Aggression is a behavior intended to threaten or injure the victim’s security or self-esteem. It


means “to go against,” “to assault,” or “to attack.” It is a response that aims at inflicting pain
or injury on objects or persons. Whether the damage is caused by words, fists, or weapons,
the behavior is virtually always designed to punish. It is frequently accompanied by
bitterness, meanness, and ridicule. An aggressive person is often vengeful

(Warren, 1990, p. 81).

Aggression as behavior that is intended to harm another individual who does not wish to be
harmed (Baron & Richardson, 1994).
PREDISPOSING FACTORS TO ANGER AND AGGRESSION

A number of factors have been implicated in the way individuals express anger. Some
theorists view aggression as purely biological, and some suggest that it results from
individuals’ interactions with their environments. It is likely a combination of both.

Modeling Role modeling is one of the strongest forms of learning. Children model their
behavior at a very early age after their primary caregivers, usually parents. How parents or
significant others express anger becomes the child’s method of anger expression. Whether
role modeling is positive or negative depends on the behavior of the models. Much has been
written about the abused child becoming physically abusive as an adult. Role models are not
always in the home, however. Evidence supports the role of television violence as a
predisposing factor to later aggressive behavior (American Psychological Association,
2006b). The American Psychiatric Association (2006) suggests that monitoring what children
view and regulation of violence in the media are necessary to prevent this type of violent
modeling.

Operant Conditioning Operant conditioning occurs when a specific behavior is reinforced. A


positive reinforcement is a response to the specific behavior that is pleasurable or produces
the desired results. A negative reinforcement is a response to the specific behavior that
prevents an undesirable result from occurring. Anger responses can be learned through
operant conditioning. For example, when a child wants something and has been told “no” by
a parent, he or she might have a temper tantrum. If, when the temper tantrum begins, the
parent lets the child have what is wanted, the anger has been positively reinforced (or
rewarded). An example of learning by negative reinforcement follows: A mother asks the
child to pick up her toys and the child becomes angry and has a temper tantrum. If, when the
temper tantrum begins, the mother thinks, “Oh, it’s not worth all this!” and picks up the toys
herself, the

anger has been negatively reinforced (child was rewarded by not having to pick up her toys).

Neurophysiological Disorders Some research has implicated epilepsy of temporal and frontal
lobe origin in episodic aggression and violent behavior (Sadock & Sadock, 2007). Clients
with episodic dyscontrol often respond to anticonvulsant medication. Tumors in the brain,
particularly in the areas of the limbic system and the temporal lobes; trauma to the brain,
resulting in cerebral changes; and diseases, such as encephalitis (or medications that may
effect this syndrome), have all been implicated in the predisposition to aggression and violent
behavior. A study by Lee and associates (1998) showed that destruction of the amygdaloid
body in patients with intractable aggression resulted in a reduction in autonomic arousal
levels and in the number of aggressive outbursts.

Biochemical Factors Violent behavior may be associated with hormonal dysfunction caused
by Cushing’s disease or hyperthyroidism (Tardiff, 2003). Studies have not supported a
correlation between violence and increased levels of androgens or alterations in hormone
levels associated with hypoglycemia or premenstrual syndrome. Some research indicates that
various neurotransmitters (e.g., epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, and
serotonin) may play a role in the facilitation and inhibition of aggressive impulses (Sadock &
Sadock, 2007).

Socioeconomic Factors High rates of violence exist within the subculture of poverty in the
United States. This has been attributed to lack of resources, breakup of families, alienation,
discrimination, and frustration (Tardiff, 2003). An ongoing controversy exists as to whether
economic inequality or absolute poverty is most responsible for violent behavior within this
subculture. That is, does violence occur because individuals perceive themselves as
disadvantaged relative to other persons, or does violence occur because of the deprivation
itself? These concepts are not easily understood and are still under investigation.

Environmental Factors Physical crowding may be related to violence through increased


contact and decreased defensible space (Tardiff, 2003). A relationship between heat and
aggression also has been indicated (Anderson, 2001). Moderately

uncomfortable temperature appears to be associated with an increase in aggression, while


extremely hot temperatures seem to decrease aggression. A number of epidemiological
studies have found a strong link between use of alcohol and violent behavior. Other
substances, including cocaine, amphetamines, hallucinogens, and anabolic steroids, have also
been associated with violent behavior (Tardiff, 2003).

Potrebbero piacerti anche