emotion
Anger
Confidence · high
A high-arousal state arising from blocked goals or perceived injustice, mobilizing approach and confrontation.
Something unjust or obstructive is happening, and I can act on it.
01
Overview
Typical triggers
- ·Violation of values or fairness
- ·Goal blocked by another agent
- ·Insult or disrespect
- ·Helplessness becoming activatable
Common metaphors
- “Boiling over”
- “Seeing red”
- “Blood pressure rising”
02
Body
- faceHeat, flushing, jaw clenched
- chestPressure, expansion
- shouldersSquared, raised
- handsFists, urge to grip
Sympathetic — mobilization
Arousal5/5
Energy5/5
- Heart rate
- Sharply elevated; blood pressure rises
- Breathing
- Deep, forceful, audible exhale
03
Mind
Attention
Locked onto the offender or obstacle
Facial expression
Lowered, drawn-together brows, hard stare, lips pressed or bared teeth
Typical thoughts
- “This is not okay”
- “They shouldn't have…”
- “I need to do something”
04
Behavior
- Raising voice, confrontation
- Pacing, slamming objects
- Setting limits, asserting
Environmental influences
Hunger, heat, fatigue · Crowds, traffic · Repeated small frustrations stacking
05
Function
Removes obstacles, defends boundaries and group norms, signals to others not to transgress.
State transitions
- AngerFrustrationvia Action proves ineffective
- AngerSadnessvia Anger turns inward or onto loss
- AngerAcceptancevia Reappraisal of what can be changed
06
Interventions
- Step away for 90 seconds — let the surge metabolize
- Name the unmet need behind the anger
- Physical discharge: brisk walk, push against a wall
- Write the angry letter you will not send
Reflection questions
- · What value of mine was crossed?
- · What outcome do I actually want?
- · Who is the anger really aimed at?
07
Relationships
RelatedNeighborOpposite
08
Research
Anger is approach-motivated despite negative valence — left frontal asymmetry rather than right (Harmon-Jones).
Citations
- · Harmon-Jones (2003). Anger and the behavioral approach system.
- · Averill (1983). Studies on anger and aggression.