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Somatovisceral Activation During Anger

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International Handbook of Anger

Abstract

What is the physiological signature of anger? If not anger, which emotion would be more destined to turn a “cold” object perception into a Jamesian “hot” emotional encounter? Indeed, reports of bodily anger sensations are descriptions of heat and tension. However, the message from studies reporting physiological anger responses is more difficult to reconcile. The chapter discusses landmark studies on the differentiation between anger and fear. It is emphasized that their methodological characteristics are decisive for demonstrating or failing to show physiological anger specificity. A meta-analysis shows that anger provocation elicits strong changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, number of skin conductance responses, and muscle activity. The pattern resembles the combined action of adrenaline and noradrenaline, accompanied by strong vagal withdrawal. It is argued that these coordinated changes have a functional value for the pursuit and finally the attainment of the goal of anger: to motivate individuals to avoid failure and pain by averting subordination under physically or socially caused harm and to gain superiority.

This work has been supported by grants Ste405 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Adrenaline stimulates alpha-adrenergic, beta1- and beta2-adrenergic receptors. Adrenergic responses are defined as reductions in finger temperature (probably because blood is redistributed from the skin to skeletal muscles), diastolic blood pressure, and total peripheral resistance and as increases in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, stroke volume, left-ventricular contractility, cardiac output, number of skin conductance responses, and respiration rate. Noradrenaline stimulates alpha- and beta1-adrenergic receptors. Noradrenergic responses are characterized by increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left-ventricular contractility, number of skin conductance responses, and total peripheral resistance, as well as reductions in heart rate and finger temperature (Chessick et al., 1966; Löllgen, Meuret, Just, & Wiemers, 1985; Wenger et al., 1960). Compared to adrenaline, noradrenaline produces a lower heart and respiration rate, lower stroke volume and cardiac output, but a higher diastolic blood pressure and total peripheral resistance and a higher finger temperature.

  2. 2.

    In a crossed carry-over design and randomized across sessions, subjects were given either Placebo, partial beta-adrenergic and cholinergic blockade (“alpha-free”), partial alpha-adrenergic and cholinergic blockade (“beta-free”), or partial alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade (“chol-free”).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany

    Gerhard Stemmler

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  1. Gerhard Stemmler
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Correspondence to Gerhard Stemmler .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Pediatrics, Div. Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Delaware St. SE., 420, Minneapolis, 55455, Minnesota, USA

    Michael Potegal

  2. FB Psychologie, Universität Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, Marburg, 35032, Germany

    Gerhard Stemmler

  3. University of South Florida, 7th Ave. South 140, St. Petersburg, 33701, Florida, USA

    Charles Spielberger

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Stemmler, G. (2010). Somatovisceral Activation During Anger. In: Potegal, M., Stemmler, G., Spielberger, C. (eds) International Handbook of Anger. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-89676-2_7

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