Anger, Aggression, and Assertiveness
This is a normal human emotion that may occur when a person feels threatened, hurt, frustrated, or powerless.
Anger
In children, anger may appear as crying, tantrums, hitting, biting, throwing objects, or this return to earlier behavior.
Regression
Domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, workplace violence, bullying, and crime are examples of this.
Societal impacts of aggression
This first stage of the assault cycle begins when something increases the client’s tension.
Triggering phase
This should be the nurse’s first priority when assessing an angry or aggressive client.
Safety
This is behavior intended to threaten, dominate, intimidate, injure, or damage.
Aggression
Adolescents may express anger through defiance, withdrawal, sarcasm, risk-taking, fighting, or this harmful behavior toward self.
Self-harm
This theory explains aggression through genetics, brain injury, neurologic disorders, hormones, substances, pain, or delirium.
Biological theory
Loud voice, threats, clenched fists, intense staring, and refusal to follow directions occur during this phase.
Escalation phase
Maintaining distance, keeping access to an exit, and removing dangerous objects are examples of this intervention.
Maintaining safety and personal space
This is the respectful expression of feelings, needs, and boundaries without harming others.
Assertiveness
Young adults may express anger through relationship conflict, workplace conflict, road rage, or this type of partner violence.
Intimate partner violence
This theory suggests aggression may occur when a person feels blocked, powerless, humiliated, or overwhelmed.
Frustration-aggression theory
This phase involves loss of control and possible physical aggression or destructive behavior.
Crisis phase
“It is okay to be angry, but it is not okay to threaten staff” is an example of this intervention.
Limit setting
This phrase explains the difference between anger and aggression.
Anger is a feeling while aggression is a behavior
In older adults, anger or aggression may be related to pain, loss, fear, sensory impairment, dementia, or this acute cognitive condition.
Delirium
This theory suggests aggression can be learned by watching family, peers, media, or community violence.
Social learning theory
During this phase, the client begins regaining control but may still be vulnerable to re-escalation.
Recovery phase
Lowering noise, moving to a quiet area, offering time-out, and using breathing techniques are examples of this intervention.
Reducing stimulation and offering coping options
“I am upset because I feel ignored, and I need to understand the plan” is an example of this communication style.
Assertive communication
This is why nurses should not automatically label an angry older adult as “difficult.”
Anger may reflect pain, fear, confusion, loss, or unmet needs
This is why sudden aggression should prompt a medical assessment.
It may be caused by pain, delirium, substance use, brain injury, infection, or medication effects.
Guilt, shame, remorse, sadness, and exhaustion may occur during this final phase.
Post-crisis depression phase
Pausing before responding, using self-talk, lowering the voice, and debriefing after incidents help nurses manage this.
Their own anger