Anger basics
What is anger?
Anger is a normal emotion experienced by everyone at different times.
True or False: Genetics are not a cause for anger.
FALSE
Genetic or physiological factors
Some people are simply easily irritated
What is aggression?
Aggression is the behavior/action taken that is hostile, destructive, and/or violent.
True or False? Anger is not a natural response.
FALSE; It is, in fact, a natural response to a threat, helping prime ourselves for protection or stand up for ourselves.
True or False: Past Trauma is a cause of anger.
TRUE
What is the difference between anger and aggression?
Anger is a FEELING or EMOTION whereas, aggression is the behavior or action taken.
True or False? Anger can be used for motivation for some people. Why or why not?
Anger can also be useful to motivate people to meet challenges or make changes.
True or False: Learning difficulties may be causes of anger.
TRUE
What are some examples of aggressive behavior or actions?
It can be physical assault, throwing objects, property damage, self-harming behaviors, verbal threats, or insults.
More often than not, anger happens as a reaction to what?
More often than not it happens as a reaction to thoughts or emotions - hurt, frustration, worry, jealousy, confusion, rejection, embarrassment or powerlessness.
What are some psychological or internal causes of anger?
Psychological or internal sources
There are some specific ways of thinking that mean people experience anger more. There are:
Emotional reasoning – misinterpret normal events and things others say as being directly threatening – see it as attack on themselves
Low frustration tolerance – stress related anxiety
Unreasonable expectations – expecting others to act a certain way or for uncontrollable events to behave predictably – when things don’t go their way anger and frustration set in
People-rating – applying a derogatory label on someone else. Labelling them this way dehumanises them and makes it easier to focus anger on them
True or false? Many young people become aggressive in response to a real or perceived threat or it may be a learned behavior that helps them get their needs met.
TRUE: Many young people become aggressive in response to a real or perceived threat or it may be a learned behavior that helps them get their needs met.
Fill in the blanks:
What is important is how they cope with, and express, angry feelings. Anger that isn’t managed well can have an impact on relationships, as well as __ and __ health.
What is important is how they cope with, and express, angry feelings. Anger that isn’t managed well can have an impact on relationships, as well as physical and emotional health.
Which type of cause of anger is this?
Simply being an adolescent means you are more unstable as you develop the strategies to manage strong emotions such as anger.
Developmental influences
What are some ways that anger can often be a way that young people communicate?
Fearful
Frustrated or don’t understand
Misunderstood or not listened to
Embarrassed or Humiliated
Experiencing injustice
Trying to control a situation
Experiencing Pain (including withdrawal from substances)
Physically uncomfortable (tired, hungry or in pain)