The science of anger
SOMETIMES RAGE CAN BE GOOD FOR YOU. JUST PLEASE DON’T PUNCH ANYONE WHO GETS IN YOUR WAY.
Whether you’re feeling mildly stabby or in a full-on Hulk rage, psychologists reckon there are three basic reasons to get angry: when expectations aren’t met (the last Freddo you thought was in the fridge is no longer there); when something is seen as a threat (that tailgating arsehole on the freeway who doesn’t understand safe braking distance); or when attempting to hide other emotions (I’m not crying, I can’t let anyone else see I have the sads!).
Studies out of the University of Massachusetts show most of us get angry at least several times a week, if not several times a day. Which is maybe not surprising, when there’s so much to get the irrits about. Adults, apparently, get most stroppy when they’re feeling out of control, while kids will resort to tantrums when frustrated (that damn missing Freddo!). Even babies are wired for fury – from an evolutionary standpoint, they need to be. Getting angry means people are more likely to give you what you want, especially if that’s a dry nappy and a nice drink of milk.
Once an outside angrifying event occurs, it’s dealt with in our amygdalae – two small, nut-shaped parts of the brain that process emotions – which trigger the production of neurotransmitters called adrenaline and noradrenaline. These give us energy and strength for several minutes, basically prepping us to punch on if needs be. Our muscles tense and our heart rate increases, forcing blood pressure up, making us breathe faster, and literally heating our bodies. We might even go red in the face and get a bit sweaty.
But, as demonstrated by the fact that we’ve all misplaced a Freddo without massacring anyone, we needn’t act on this chemical rage. If we’re lucky, our cerebral cortex kicks in – the brain part that enables us to control our instincts with judgment and soothing anger management mantras. Everyone’s heads remain attached to their bodies, and we all live to get angry another day.
Many scientists think genetics are an important factor in angermaking, and German researchers have even found the gene mutations that make some of us more likely to rant and swear and tell others to perform unlikely sex acts on their mums. In news that will shock no one, evolutionary psychologists reckon men are more prone to getting angry than women, since, in the classic caveman scenario, a big angry guy is more likely to see off marauders, stop a war, or just get a bigger slice of giant prehistoric wombat barbeque.
Even in non-wombat barbeque times, anger can help us get what we want. Specifically, it can give us an edge in creativity: research in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology shows that anger makes our thoughts less structured and systematic, which can lead to creative outcomes. So maybe pick up a paintbrush next time you feel a bit punchy – you could have a non-systematic hit on your hands.
Feeling the rage when we don’t get what we want also helps us focus on our goals – when the world is against us, we’re more likely to be motivated to prove those haters wrong. One experiment in Boston showed that angry people tend to pay more attention to rewards than threats. Participants were made to write about a rage-inducing memory while being played angry music for five minutes, then they were shown two pictures: one depicting a knife-wielding maniac; the other a couple getting all sexy. An eye-tracking device monitored which they paid most attention to, and the sexy times won. Proving angry people are good at shutting out obstacles and going for what they want. Hopefully in a healthy and non-stabby way.