Why Are People So Angry?

The Problem With Anger

A man who ordered a sandwich at a fast-food restaurant became enraged when he thought it took too long for his meal to come. He entered the restaurant, threatened an employee, shoved him up against a counter, and slapped him. The angry man then grabbed his sandwich and walked out of the restaurant.

ALL of us get angry from time to time. After all, anger is as much a part of our emotional makeup as love, hope, anxiety, sadness, and fear. Anger that is controlled can expressed in a proper way and can serve a useful purpose. For example, anger can be productive if it boosts one’s determination to overcome certain obstacles or problems. As illustrated by the account above, anger also has a dark side. Some people experience anger more quickly, more frequently, and more intensely than others. When provoked, they may lash out with verbal or physical attacks. Their anger, in effect, controls them, when it should be the other way around. Such unrestrained anger is dangerous, which is why it is sometimes referred to as “problem anger.”Those with anger problems bring grief not only to themselves but also to everyone around them. For someone with anger issues, even seemingly trivial matters can spark a violent outburst that brings tragic consequences. Consider the following examples:

"A man walking with a group of friends was shot in the neck after the sports bag of one of his friends brushed against another man on a busy street.

19-year-old male beat his fiancée’s 11-month-old baby to death.The man had been playing a violent video game and lost his temper when the baby touched the game’s control panel and thus caused the man to forfeit the game.

Similar reports from around the world indicate that an increasing number of people have anger problems.

Why is anger on the rise?

Why So Much Anger?

THE causes of anger are complex. Even scientists admit that anger is poorly understood. However, there is general agreement among mental-health professionals that all of us react to certain “anger triggers.”

An anger trigger can be something that frustrates or annoys someone. These triggers often result from injustice or unfairness. They can occur when we feel slighted, such as through insult or disrespect. An imagined threat to our authority or reputation can also stir up feelings of anger.

Of course, “anger triggers” vary from person to person. They differ with age and gender and even from one culture to another. Moreover, reactions to these triggers also vary. Some people seldom get angry and quickly get over an affront, while others are easily provoked and may hold on to anger for days, weeks, months, or longer.

Our environment is filled with potential triggers. Added to that, sensitivity to these triggers may be rising. Why? One reason is the thoughtless, me-first spirit that is ever-present in our day. The Bible explains: “In the last days . . . men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, . . . headstrong, puffed up with pride.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Does that not accurately describe the attitudes of many people today?

Indeed, when self-centered people do not get their own way, anger is often the result. There are also a number of other reasons why anger may be a growing problem. Consider some of them.

Parental Example

One’s parents have a profound influence on personality development throughout childhood and adolescence.

If a child is raised in a hostile environment-a place where tempers flare over trivial matters_the child is in effect, being trained to respond to life’s problems with anger. You could liken the child’s situation to a plant that has been nourished with tainted water. The plant may grow, but its development could be perhaps suffer permanent damage. Likewise, anger is like tainted water, and children who have been exposed to it are more inclined to have anger problems as adults.

Cramped Cities

As more and more people squeeze into crowded cities, the levels of anger and frustration are likely to rise. To cite one example, Mexico City is one of the largest and most congested cities on earth. Traffic jams are a major source of anxiety. Home to some 18 million people and six million cars, Mexico City “could well be the world’s most stressed-out capital,” reports one journalist. “The traffic is intense, rendering tempers highly combustible.”Crowded cities bring other sources of stress, including air and noise pollution, scarce housing, cultural clashes, and high crime rates. As the sources of stress increase, people have a tendency to get frustrated, angry, and lose patience more easily.

Economic Despair

The world’s economic meltdown has sparked widespread stress and anxiety. According to some reports and survey “Over 210 million people across the globe are estimated to be unemployed.” Sadly, most of those who have been laid off are without any kind of safety net.Those holding a job do not fare much better, work-related stress is a “global epidemic."

Prejudice and Injustice

Imagine how you would feel if you entered a footrace and found that you were the only one required to compete in leg irons. Millions of people feel similarly when they face racial or other forms of prejudice. People get angry when they face barriers that limit their access to jobs, education, housing, and other basic necessities.

Other forms of injustice can likewise crush one’s spirit and bring great emotional pain. Sadly, most of us have felt the sting of injustice at one time or another. When justice is rampant and comfort is scarce, anger can easily well up in one’s heart.

The Entertainment Industry

Over a thousand studies have been conducted to determine the impact television and other media violence have on children.Base in my experience, as a father it's true' that when our children exposed to violent acts on television they lost their temper easily.True, most youths who are routinely exposed to violent acts on television do not grow up to be vicious criminals. However, the entertainment media often portrays violent anger as an acceptable way to deal with adversity, and a new generation of people who are desensitized to violence has emerged.

Resist the Urge

Indeed, when we consider all these problems, pressures, and anxieties, we understand why people become frustrated as they try to manage their day-to-day responsibilities.

The urge to become angry and blow off steam can be overpowering! The next article will help us to see how to keep anger under control.

"Let Anger Alone"

The way to avoid saying or doing something that you may later regret is to keep from getting "heated up" in the first place. Of course, that is much easier said than done. But it can be done! Let's consider three ways that you can get your anger under control.

Reduce Anger’s Intensity

To reduce anger, slow down and relax. Try to avoid saying the first thing that comes to mind. If you feel yourself getting overly excited and feel you are in danger of losing control of your emotions, apply the Bible’s counsel: “The beginning of contention is as one letting out waters; so before the quarrel has burst forth, take your leave.”—Proverbs 17:14.

Learn to Relax

The following techniques have proved to be effective in combating stress-related anger:

● Breathing deeply, which is one of the best—and fastest—ways to reduce the intensity of your anger.

● While breathing deeply, repeating a word or phrase that is calming to you, such as “relax,” “let it go,” or “take it easy.”

● Immersing yourself in something you enjoy—perhaps reading, listening to music, gardening, or some other type of activity you find relaxing.

● Getting regular exercise and eating a healthful diet.

Adjust Your Expectations

You may not be able completely to avoid the people or the things that act as anger triggers, but you can learn to control your reactions to them. This involves changing the way you think.People with very high expectations tend to have greater problems with anger. Why? Because when someone or something does not measure up to their high standards, disappointment and anger quickly follow.Therefore, we set ourselves up for a sense of failure if we think that we or anyone else can be perfect. We are wise not to expect too much of ourselves or others. The Bible says: “We all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man.” (James 3:2) Yes, “there is no man righteous in the earth that keeps doing good and does not sin." So if we pretend to be something that we are not—perfect—it will lead to a life filled with frustration and anger.As imperfect humans, we all get angry from time to time. But how we express our anger is a matter of choice.Yes, by controlling our anger, we can express our feelings in a positive way, a way that works for the benefit of everyone involved.