Anger
Anger
Anger
BY: M. Zubair
Lecturer KMU
Objectives
By the end of the session learner will be able to
• Define Anger,
• Explains Nature and Anger Components
• Identify the causes of Anger
• List the ways for expressing Anger
• Discuss the Anger Management technique.
Definition of Anger
• Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human
emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns
destructive, it can lead to problems.
The Nature of Anger
• Anger is "an emotional state that varies in intensity
from mild irritation to intense fury and rage,"
according to Charles Spielberger, PhD, a psychologist
who specializes in the study of anger.
Anger Components
• Anger has several components :
• Psychological. This is the emotional component of
anger, how a person feel, such as sadness,
disappointment or frustration.
• Physiological. This is how person’s body responds to
anger, such as developing muscle tension or an
increase in heart rate and blood pressure as body
releases adrenaline — the fight-or-flight hormone.
• Cognitive. This is what person think as he/she
experience anger, such as acknowledging that it's OK
to be frustrated.
Causes of Anger
• Anger can be caused by both external and internal
events.
• Could be angry at a specific person (Such as a
coworker or supervisor) or event (a traffic jam, a
canceled flight),
• Could be caused by worrying or brooding about
personal problems. Memories of traumatic or
enraging events can also trigger angry feelings.
Expressing Anger
• The three main approaches are expressing,
suppressing, and calming.
• Expressing angry feelings in an assertive—
not aggressive—manner is the healthiest way
to express anger. To do this, one has to learn
how to make clear what needs are, and how to
get them met, without hurting others. Being
assertive doesn't mean being pushy or
demanding; it means being respectful of
oneself and others.
Suppressing
• Anger can be suppressed, and then converted or
redirected. This happens when person hold in anger,
stop thinking about it, and focus on something
positive. The aim is to inhibit or suppress anger and
convert it into more constructive behavior. The
danger in this type of response is that if it isn't
allowed outward expression, anger can turn inward.
• Relaxation
Simple relaxation tools, such as deep breathing and
relaxing imagery, can help calm down angry feelings
Cognitive Restructuring
• Simply put, this means changing the way of think.
Angry people tend to curse, swear, or speak in highly
colorful terms that reflect their inner thoughts.
• When angry, thinking can get very exaggerated and
overly dramatic. Try replacing these thoughts with
more rational ones.
• For instance, instead of telling yourself, "oh, it's
awful, it's terrible, everything's ruined," tell yourself,
"it's frustrating, and it's understandable that I'm upset
about it, but it's not the end of the world and getting
angry is not going to fix it anyhow."
Problem Solving
• The best attitude to bring to such a situation, then, is
not to focus on finding the solution, but rather on how
to handle and face the problem.
• Make a plan, and check progress along the way.
Resolve to give it best, but also not to punish if an
answer doesn't come right away.
Better Communication
Angry people tend to jump to—and act on—conclusions,
and some of those conclusions can be very inaccurate.
The first thing to do if some one in a heated discussion is
slow down and think through responses. Don't say the
first thing that comes into head, but slow down and think
carefully about what to say. At the same time, listen
carefully to what the other person is saying and take time
before answering.
Using Humor
• "Silly humor" can help defuse rage in a number of
ways. For one thing, it can help get a more balanced
perspective
Changing Environment
• Sometimes it's immediate surroundings that give
cause for irritation and fury.
• Give a break. Make sure you have some "personal
time" scheduled for times of the day that you know
are particularly stressful. One example is the
working mother who has a standing rule that when
she comes home from work, for the first 15 minutes
"nobody talks to Mom unless the house is on fire."
After this brief quiet time, she feels better prepared to
handle demands from her kids without blowing up at
them.
Counseling