Psychology, types of Anger - Research Paper Example

Anger is a normal emotion undergone by every individual, without exception, at some, or the other stage of life; definitely many. And still, anger is one of the most poorly understood as an acceptable, negative but still, normal experience or a conscious feeling. Most researchers have used the term anger as synonymous with aggression, hostility etc (Martin and Watson, 1997); making a literature search inaccurate and difficult. Though its true that expression of anger may vary from imperceptible annoyance to destructive aggression depending on individual behavioural attributes to circumstantial demands.

The first aspect of anger essential in understanding it, is to remember that anger in itself is not negative, but the mode of expression of anger can render it so. There are three specific attributes of anger: physiological (heightened secretion of stress hormone, followed by activation of senses), cognitive (thought process unidirectional and antagonistic), behavioural (expression of anger, which may be repressing, suppressing, expressing and confessing). The overall inclination projected by all these responses is to attack and/or injure the target (Berkowitz, 2002).

An in depth understanding of anger is simplified by the categorisation of anger based on different criteria. The aim of this essay is to make a comprehensive study of the types of anger based on the available literature. A. ON THE BASIS OF FEELING: Pleasant or unpleasant. The two types of anger are not mutually exclusive but widely overlapping, with the actual expression involving a mixture of the two feelings in different proportions at different stages of anger. B. ON THE BASIS OF STATE OF MIND: Exciting and calm.

The excited form of anger is characterized by more aggressiveness and passion and much less coordination of thought or action. However motor process is intense while mental activity is weakened. It is transient in contrast