The Emotion of Anger

Abstract

Anger has a clear facial expression, and the normal physiological correlates are increased heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of adrenaline and non-adrenaline. There is also manifest body language and if not controlled may take an aggressive turn. My meditation guru emphasises the point that anger calls for a greater deal of mindful observation as often it is invisible where as greed is more visible. Also anger may exist as a subliminal state (anusaya), a quality it shares with greed/sensuality and conceit. Another point about anger is that it can emerge as ‘moral anger’ described by Aristotle as righteous indignation which may be counter-productive on the side of violence than justice. Anger is very volatile and enters in a disguised form into the hindrances in a meditation setting: desire, aversion, lethargy, agitation and even sceptical doubt regarding what you do not like. It is greatly mixed up with envy, jealousy, and sadism. It has a great deal of both moral and clinical significance and good humour is a great resource for the anger of self-blame.