What Is Anger?

We've all dealt with angry people in our personal and professional lives. And we all know how it feels to be angry. But what exactly is anger?

Anger is a normal, basic emotion that ranges from mild irritation to intense rage. Like fear, anger stems from our instinct for self-preservation and is always provoked by some stimulus. The stimulus may be internal or external, direct or indirect. Common anger stimuli include betrayal, disapproval, deprivation, exploitation, frustration, humiliation, manipulation, restriction, and threat. In response to one or more of these triggering stimuli, the body releases two hormones, adrenaline and noradrenalin, which produce physiological arousal, including muscle tension, increased blood pressure, accelerated heart rate, and rapid breathing. That's why angry people often scowl, grind their teeth, shudder, glare, clench their fists, flush (or pale), and twitch.

But the effects of anger go way beyond these physical manifestations. Anger has a huge impact on our perceptions, interpretations, thinking, communication, and behavior. That's why angry people often have a difficult time listening to "reason" (or appreciating the "other side of the story"); speak in a cold monotone voice; yell; say things that are intimidating, threatening, or hurtful; and lash out physically at inanimate objects or, even worse, at animals or other people.

Of course, some people do not directly express their anger at all. They might try to deny and repress their feelings, which leaves the anger seething beneath the surface. Such unexpressed anger may find another outlet, such as physical symptoms. Or the unexpressed anger may come out in passive-aggressive forms, such as withdrawal from the relationship, disrespect, sarcasm, or lack of cooperation. Sometimes anger may go unexpressed until it emerges in an outburst, or until it's inadvertently redirected toward an individual, group, institution, or condition that is entirely unrelated to the true source of the anger.

In rare cases, individuals truly learn how to calm their anger internally until the feelings subside without ever being expressed. Of course, this response is healthier than over-expressing or repressing anger, but it doesn't tap into the potential benefits of anger.

It is critical to recognize that anger is not necessarily a negative emotion. Anger often signals important data about relationships, resources, circumstances, or procedures that need improvement. When that data is recognized, processed, and acted upon, anger can lead to productive actions and positive outcomes. Effectively managed, it can give us the strength to persist in our goals, confront competitors, generate new ideas, or approach colleagues and superiors with problems.