Anger

Anger is an emotion of displeasure, usually regarding an act or idea of another person or organisation. Sometimes a person feels angry at him- or herself for having acted stupidly or badly, etc.

Anger involves a sense of injustice, outrage, frustration, irritation, or violent conflict.

Anger may also result from irritability brought on by illness such as bipolar disorder. Research also shows that some individuals can be genetically predisposed to higher levels of anger.

Physiological effects of anger

• In response to an electrical stimulation to the hypothalamus area of the brain, production of the hormone adrenaline is increased.
• Respiration deepens.
• The heart beats more rapidly and may palpitate. Blood pressure rises.
• The sympathetic nervous system diverts blood from the skin, liver, stomach and intestines to the heart, central nervous system and muscles.
• The digestive processes are suspended.
• Glucose is freed from reserves in the liver.
• Cortisol production is increased in order to depress the immune system.
• The spleen contracts and discharges its content of concentrated corpuscles.
• Men have an increased supply of the hormone testosterone.

More noticeable effects of anger include:

• More acute senses.
• Desire to yell out or to move quickly and forcefully.
• The eyes are open wider than usual and the pupils are dilated.
• The face reddens, but then may turn pale.
• We have more physical strength than usual.
• Speech and motion are faster and more intense.
• Our muscles are tense.

Religious perspective on anger

Buddhism presents a quite different view on emotions like anger. Anger is defined here as: "being unable to bear the object, or the intention to cause harm to the object". Anger is seen as aversion with a stronger exaggeration, and is listed as one of the five hindrances.

In the Christian tradition, causeless, excessive, or protracted anger is sinful (Matt. 5:22; Eph. 4:26; Col. 3:8), one of the seven deadly sins. As ascribed to God, it merely denotes his displeasure with sin and with sinners (Ps. 7:11).

See also

• anger management

External link

• A Buddhist View on Anger
• Anger, rage, and mental health disorders
• Quotations on anger Anger Quotations sorted by authors