A Positive View of Anger

03/10/2014

Curiosity is what keeps me open to a sense of hope. It staves off negativity.
Carrie Brownstein

"We aspire to the serene sangfroid in comedian John Cleese's description of the British people who rarely get more than 'miffed' or 'peeved,' and haven't escalated to 'a bit cross' since World War II when the Blitz cut tea supplies." Thus JoAnn Ellison Rodgers introduces her controversial Psychology Today article on the benefits of anger. She observes...

Anger offers a sense of control: "... people who have enhanced abilities to inflict costs (impose costs or withhold benefits) are more likely to prevail in conflicts, consider themselves entitled to better treatment, think better of themselves, and be prone to anger. In other words, they control their destinies more than less angry people do."

Anger may promote cooperation: "... anger enables cooperative relationships by means of getting two parties to 'yes' before hostilities break out.... Anger preserves a sense of control and the desire to defend what's yours, but only insofar as it leaves both parties more or less OK...."

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