Recognitive Vs Externalized Anger
Anger can be defined as an experiential state that consist of emotional, cognitive and physiological components that co-occur, rapidly interacting with and influencing each other in such a way that they tend to be experienced as a single phenomenon (Deffenbacher, 2009). It is a turbulent emotion with troubling eruptions (Novaco, 2010). Anger may vary in intensity from mild irritation and annoyance to frustration, rage and fury.
Emotionally, anger can be defined through the adaptive function it serves because it may act as an emotional mechanism of defense in actual or perceived attacks on oneself, a close family member or friend (Deffenbacher, 2009). Thus the angry individual may develop adaptive behaviors such as problem solving, limit setting, assertiveness and appropriate disengagement from others.
Physiologically, the emotion of anger leads to hormonal and muscular anatomical in an individual while cognitively anger has a high correlation to biased information …show more content…
processing of thoughts, images and attributions of feeling excessively violated, wronged, blamed or attacked (Novaco, 2010).
According to a research done by Swaffer & Hollin (2001) in Baltimore County, USA anger can either be expressed outwardly or inwardly.
When an individual expresses anger outwardly, he/she responds with verbal aggression. On the other hand expressing anger inwardly involves the suppression of anger. The term externalized anger is used to mean anger-out while the term internalized anger corresponds to anger-in (Cautin, Overhoser & Goetz, 2001).
Burney (2001) conducted an elaborate research on anger among adolescents in America in a multi-racial setting and identified four dimensions of anger that includes Reactive Anger (RA), Instrumental anger (IA), Anger Control (AC) and Total Anger (TA). Burney defines RA as the immediate angry response to a perceived negative, threatening or fearful event. An adolescent thus responds impulsively to an anger provocation. People involved with RA struggle with cognitive processing of environmental cues thus unable to solve problems. They lack anger control and social
skills.
According to Burney’s research (2001), IA is a negative emotion that triggers a delayed response resulting in a desired and planned goal of revenge enabling the individual to obtain a specific outcome or goal. An adolescent plan maliciously to revenge and this explain the essence of antisocial and delinquent behavior by adolescents. He further notes that adolescents who exhibit Anger Control have skills needed to manage anger related behaviors. On the other hand, Total Anger involves a general index of anger expression.
A study done in India by Suchday (2015) asserts that anger results from thwarted wants and needs that people have. The inequitable distribution of resources is thus a cause of distress among adolescents. This study reports that since India is a collectivist culture traditionally, encourages the suppression of anger thus the skills to deal with anger are culturally determined.
In Burundi, adolescents engage in acts of violence and explosive outbursts due to their powerlessness to promote good governance in their nation (Sommers, 2013). This explains why it’s important to avoid such issues like calling of mass action by politicians whenever things are not working in their favor.
Gelaye, Philpart, Goshu, Berhane, Fitzpatrick & Williams (2008) conducted a study in Ethiopia among 1294 male college students in Awassa region and found out that 54.3% of the students were involved in acts of violence within a semester. The students attributed these to anger proneness and stressful life events.
A number of variables influence anger. Some of these variables include social relationships, family factors, age and cultural disposition of an individual (Sigfusdottir, Farkas & Silver (2004). Adolescents who experience poor social skills are rejected in a peer group and end up joining deviant groups (Fryxell & Smith, 2000). The nature of family interactions, attachment relationships and family stressors may make an adolescent experience increased negative emotions such as anger and depressed mood (Sigfusdottir, Farkas, & Silver, 2004). Thus adolescents who witness their parents fight may respond to difficulties by aggression.
Emotionally, anger can be defined through the adaptive function it serves because it may act as an emotional mechanism of defense in actual or perceived attacks on oneself, a close family member or friend (Deffenbacher, 2009). Thus the angry individual may develop adaptive behaviors such as problem solving, limit setting, assertiveness and appropriate disengagement from others.
Physiologically, the emotion of anger leads to hormonal and muscular anatomical in an individual while cognitively anger has a high correlation to biased information …show more content…
processing of thoughts, images and attributions of feeling excessively violated, wronged, blamed or attacked (Novaco, 2010).
According to a research done by Swaffer & Hollin (2001) in Baltimore County, USA anger can either be expressed outwardly or inwardly.
When an individual expresses anger outwardly, he/she responds with verbal aggression. On the other hand expressing anger inwardly involves the suppression of anger. The term externalized anger is used to mean anger-out while the term internalized anger corresponds to anger-in (Cautin, Overhoser & Goetz, 2001).
Burney (2001) conducted an elaborate research on anger among adolescents in America in a multi-racial setting and identified four dimensions of anger that includes Reactive Anger (RA), Instrumental anger (IA), Anger Control (AC) and Total Anger (TA). Burney defines RA as the immediate angry response to a perceived negative, threatening or fearful event. An adolescent thus responds impulsively to an anger provocation. People involved with RA struggle with cognitive processing of environmental cues thus unable to solve problems. They lack anger control and social
skills.
According to Burney’s research (2001), IA is a negative emotion that triggers a delayed response resulting in a desired and planned goal of revenge enabling the individual to obtain a specific outcome or goal. An adolescent plan maliciously to revenge and this explain the essence of antisocial and delinquent behavior by adolescents. He further notes that adolescents who exhibit Anger Control have skills needed to manage anger related behaviors. On the other hand, Total Anger involves a general index of anger expression.
A study done in India by Suchday (2015) asserts that anger results from thwarted wants and needs that people have. The inequitable distribution of resources is thus a cause of distress among adolescents. This study reports that since India is a collectivist culture traditionally, encourages the suppression of anger thus the skills to deal with anger are culturally determined.
In Burundi, adolescents engage in acts of violence and explosive outbursts due to their powerlessness to promote good governance in their nation (Sommers, 2013). This explains why it’s important to avoid such issues like calling of mass action by politicians whenever things are not working in their favor.
Gelaye, Philpart, Goshu, Berhane, Fitzpatrick & Williams (2008) conducted a study in Ethiopia among 1294 male college students in Awassa region and found out that 54.3% of the students were involved in acts of violence within a semester. The students attributed these to anger proneness and stressful life events.
A number of variables influence anger. Some of these variables include social relationships, family factors, age and cultural disposition of an individual (Sigfusdottir, Farkas & Silver (2004). Adolescents who experience poor social skills are rejected in a peer group and end up joining deviant groups (Fryxell & Smith, 2000). The nature of family interactions, attachment relationships and family stressors may make an adolescent experience increased negative emotions such as anger and depressed mood (Sigfusdottir, Farkas, & Silver, 2004). Thus adolescents who witness their parents fight may respond to difficulties by aggression.