The Role of Anger in Our Lives

From an evolutionary perspective, every emotion plays a significant role in our lives. Experiencing the full range of emotions allows us to live fully and enjoy life. Anger is no exception! While anger, rage, and aggression are often seen as negative emotions, life would be very different without them. Imagine someone taking your belongings and walking away while you simply watch without reacting. Or, if someone tries to harm you physically and all you feel is fear. What would the consequences be? Not only would you lose your possessions, but you also wouldn’t be able to defend yourself against threats to your life. That’s why actions taken in a state of anger can sometimes be useful and necessary.

Why Does Anger Arise?

Anger emerges when something threatens our important values or interests. It activates our body, making us ready to defend ourselves and fight for what matters to us.

What Can Trigger Anger?

Researchers have suggested various triggers for anger, but there’s no single proven cause. Anger can be sparked by many different situations, sometimes in combination. For example, to make a child angry, it’s often enough to restrain their hands so they can’t use them freely. Metaphorically, this applies to adults too—anger often arises when something prevents us from achieving our goals.

Disappointment, even with inanimate objects, can also cause anger. We might get angry if we forget something or can’t solve a mental task. If someone tries to harm us physically, we’re likely to feel both fear and anger. Think about a time when someone was rude or disrespectful to you—anger is a common response. Disappointment in another person’s behavior, especially someone close to us, can also be a strong trigger for anger, as those closest to us often provoke the strongest emotions.

Types of Anger

There are several types of anger, ranging from mild irritation to intense rage. Anger can differ not only in intensity but also in type. For example:

• Indignation when we feel we are right
• Sullen anger when we are passively upset
• Bitterness when our patience runs out
• Revenge when someone acts against our interests or insults us
• Hatred as an extreme form of anger

Why Do Some People Get Angry More Often?

People differ in how often and how intensely they experience emotions. Some have anger as a dominant emotion and will feel and show it more frequently than someone whose dominant emotion is joy, for example.

Why Is It Important to Recognize Our Own Anger?

Everyone struggles with controlling anger at times. When we’re irritated, we tend to focus on things that reinforce our anger—things we might not even notice when calm. Minor annoyances can escalate into strong anger or even rage. Sometimes, we even look for reasons to express our anger. If you realize you’re irritated and want to avoid conflict or harm, it’s best to calm down before communicating with important people in your life.

Other Functions of Anger

Anger also serves an informational function. It signals to others that something is wrong. Sometimes, it’s helpful for others to know we’re angry, especially if they are the source. Recognizing this, they might change their behavior or pause communication for a while.

How Does Anger Manifest?

Like any emotion, anger has clear signals that show up on our face and body. Have you noticed that angry people often tilt their heads forward, leading with their forehead? Fists may clench automatically, sometimes without the person even realizing it. The voice becomes louder and more distinct. On the face, anger is shown by:

• Eyebrows drawn down and together, creating vertical lines between them
• Lower eyelids tensed and raised
• Lips pressed together, reducing their size
• Nostrils flared

Every emotion is unique and serves its own purpose, including anger. Everything is best in moderation. Anger is the most competitive emotion, but it’s easy to give in to and hard to let go of. These qualities make anger a truly unique emotion!