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Anger

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Handbook of Forensic Sociology and Psychology

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Abstract

Anger is an emotion that is experienced by men and women alike across all socio-economic-cultural spheres. Although anger is a common human emotion, the maladaptive experience and expression often has serious and, at times, devastating consequences, to the angry person as well as to those around him or her, and to society at large. Consequently, societies and cultures often convey implicit or explicit messages and rules that regulate the expression of anger. In this chapter the author presents a synopsis of anger theory and treatment and discusses the role that key variables such as age, gender, and culture play in shaping the experience and expression of anger. The author explores how gender-role socialization and culturally driven messages shape the mode of anger expression for men and women. A brief review of the literature on the application of anger treatment to batterers and offenders is also presented. In addition, the author discusses differences between the healthy and unhealthy experience and expression of anger and presents a cognitive-based theoretical model to help conceptualize anger. In this model the author discusses how cognitions may impact the intensity of the experience and expression of anger. The cognitive variables addressed in this model are: (1) the perception of injustice, maltreatment, or loss; (2) the externalization of blame; (3) demanding attitude; (4) personalization; and (5) negative or pejorative labeling of others. The chapter closes with a presentation of two case vignettes that illustrate key factors and personality characteristics associated with the experience and expression of anger, and the author discusses how these may point to favorable or unfavorable parental suitability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 4756 Cass Avenue, Thompson Home #308, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    A. Antonio González-Prendes Ph.D., L.M.S.W.

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  1. A. Antonio González-Prendes Ph.D., L.M.S.W.
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Correspondence to A. Antonio González-Prendes Ph.D., L.M.S.W. .

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  1. Nursing and Health Sciences, California State University, East Bay, San Francisco, California, USA

    Stephen J. Morewitz

  2. College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Mark L. Goldstein

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González-Prendes, A.A. (2014). Anger. In: Morewitz, S., Goldstein, M. (eds) Handbook of Forensic Sociology and Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7178-3_24

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