Editing Anger (section)

==Coping strategies==
{{Main|Anger management}}

===Therapy and behavioral strategies===
According to Leland R. Beaumont, each instance of anger demands making a choice.<ref>Leland R. Beaumont, Emotional Competency, [http://www.emotionalcompetency.com/anger.htm#path Anger, An Urgent Plea for Justice and Action] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629210133/http://www.emotionalcompetency.com/anger.htm#path |date=2017-06-29 }}, Entry describing paths of anger</ref> A person can respond with [[hostility|hostile]] action, including overt [[violence]], or they can respond with hostile inaction, such as withdrawing or stonewalling. Other options include initiating a dominance contest; harboring [[resentment]]; or working to better understand and constructively resolve the issue.

According to Raymond Novaco, there are a multitude of steps that were researched in attempting to deal with this emotion. In order to manage anger the problems involved in the anger should be discussed, Novaco suggests. The situations leading to anger should be explored by the person.<ref name="AngerTheory"/><ref>Novaco, R. (1975). Anger control: The development and evaluation of an experimental treatment. Lexington, MA: Heath.</ref>

Conventional therapies for anger involve restructuring thoughts and beliefs to bring about a reduction in anger. These therapies often come within the schools of CBT (or [[cognitive behavioral therapy]]) like modern systems such as REBT ([[rational emotive behavior therapy]]). Research shows that people with excessive anger often harbor and act on dysfunctional [[attribution (psychology)|attributions]], assumptions and [[evaluation]]s in specific situations. It has been shown that with therapy by a trained professional, individuals can bring their anger to more manageable levels.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Beck |first1=Richard |last2=Fernandez |first2=Ephrem |title=Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Anger: A Meta-Analysis |journal=Cognitive Therapy and Research |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=63–74 |year=1998 |url=http://www.acu.edu/img/assets/6655/Cognitive-Behavioral%20in%20the%20Treatment%20of%20Anger%20(A%20Meta-analysis).pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905115446/http://www.acu.edu/img/assets/6655/Cognitive-Behavioral%20in%20the%20Treatment%20of%20Anger%20(A%20Meta-analysis).pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2006-09-05 |access-date=2007-02-05 |doi=10.1023/A:1018763902991 |s2cid=5209157 }}</ref> The therapy is followed by the so-called "stress inoculation" in which the clients are taught relaxation skills to control their arousal and various cognitive controls to exercise on their attention, thoughts, images, and feelings. "Logic defeats anger, because anger, even when it's justified, can quickly become irrational." ([[American Psychological Association]]). In other words, although there may be a rational reason to get angry, the frustrated actions of the subject can become irrational. Taking deep breaths is regarded as the first step to calming down. Once the anger has subsided a little, the patient will accept that they are frustrated and move on. Lingering around the source of frustration may bring the rage back.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.apa.org/topics/anger/control |title=Control anger before it controls you |publisher=American Psychological Association |access-date=20 July 2022 |archive-date=27 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727085305/https://www.apa.org/topics/anger/control |url-status=live }}</ref>

The skills-deficit model states that poor [[social skills]] is what renders a person incapable of expressing anger in an appropriate manner.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Frederiksen | first1 = L.W. | last2 = Eisler | first2 = R.M. | year = 1977 | title = The control of explosive behavior: A skill development approach. In D. Upper (Ed.), Perspectives in Behavior Therapy. Kalamazoo, MI: Behaviordelia. Ranhiam, S., LeFebre, C., and Jenkins, J.O. 1980. The effects of social skills training on behavioral and cognitive components of anger management | journal = Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry | volume = 11 | pages = 3–8 }}</ref> Social skills training has been found to be an effective method for reducing exaggerated anger by offering alternative coping skills to the angry individual. Research has found that persons who are prepared for aversive events find them less threatening, and excitatory reactions are significantly reduced.<ref>Leventhal, H.. Emotions: A basic problem for social psychology. In C. Nemeth (Ed.), Social psychology: Classic and contemporary integrations. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1974.</ref> In a 1981 study, that used modeling, behavior rehearsal, and videotaped feedback to increase anger control skills, showed increases in anger control among aggressive youth in the study.<ref>Kolko, D.J., Dorsett, P.G., and Milan, M. (1981). A total assessment approach to the evaluation of social skills training: The effectiveness of an anger control program for adolescent psychiatric patients. Behavioral Assessment, 3, 383–402.</ref> Research conducted with youthful offenders using a social skills training program (aggression replacement training), found significant reductions in anger, and increases in anger control.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Glick | first1 = B. | last2 = Goldstein | first2 = A.P. | year = 1987 | title = Aggression replacement training | journal = Journal of Counseling and Development | volume = 65 | issue = 7| pages = 356–361 | doi = 10.1002/j.1556-6676.1987.tb00730.x }}</ref> Research has also found that antisocial personalities are more likely to learn avoidance tasks when the consequences involved obtaining or losing tangible rewards. Learning among antisocial personalities also occurred better when they were involved with high intensity stimulation.<ref>Reid, D., Dorr, J., Walker & J Bonner (eds.), New York: Norton (1971).</ref> [[Social learning theory]] states that positive stimulation was not compatible with hostile or aggressive reactions.<ref>Bandura, A. Aggression: A social learning analysis. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1973.</ref> Anger research has also studied the effects of reducing anger among adults with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), with a social skills program approach that used a low fear and high arousal group setting. This research found that low fear messages were less provocative to the ASPD population, and high positive arousal stimulated their ability to concentrate, and subsequently learn new skills for anger reduction.<ref>Sanderlin, T.K., and Cellini, H.R., "Anger Management Intervention with Offender Populations". Offender Programs Report, Vol. 2. No. 4, November/December 1998.</ref>

A new integrative approach to anger treatment has been formulated by Fernandez (2010).<ref>"Toward an Integrative Psychotherapy for Maladaptive Anger", ''International Handbook of Anger''.</ref> Termed CBAT, for cognitive behavioral affective therapy, this treatment goes beyond conventional relaxation and reappraisal by adding cognitive and behavioral techniques and supplementing them with effective techniques to deal with the feeling of anger. The techniques are sequenced contingently in three phases of treatment: prevention, intervention, and postvention. In this way, people can be trained to deal with the onset of anger, its progression, and the residual features of anger.

===Medication therapy===
{{Main|Serenic}}
{{See also|List of investigational aggression drugs}}

[[File:Nevrovitamine 4 P-FG-ES-01835.jpg|thumb|Early 20th century French advertisement for drugs against anger in children. [[Bibliothèque municipale de Nancy]]]]

[[Systematic review]]s and [[meta-analysis|meta-analyses]] suggest that certain [[psychiatry|psychiatric]] [[medication]]s may be effective in controlling symptoms of anger, hostility, and irritability.<ref name="pmid30721802">{{cite journal | vauthors = Bak M, Weltens I, Bervoets C, De Fruyt J, Samochowiec J, Fiorillo A, Sampogna G, Bienkowski P, Preuss WU, Misiak B, Frydecka D, Samochowiec A, Bak E, Drukker M, Dom G | title = The pharmacological management of agitated and aggressive behaviour: A systematic review and meta-analysis | journal = Eur Psychiatry | volume = 57 | issue = | pages = 78–100 | date = April 2019 | pmid = 30721802 | doi = 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2019.01.014 | s2cid = 73416580 | url = | doi-access = free | hdl = 10067/1566660151162165141 | hdl-access = free }}</ref><ref name="pmid31126061">{{cite journal | vauthors = Romero-Martínez Á, Murciano-Martí S, Moya-Albiol L | title = Is Sertraline a Good Pharmacological Strategy to Control Anger? Results of a Systematic Review | journal = Behav Sci | volume = 9 | issue = 5 | date = May 2019 | page = 57 | pmid = 31126061 | pmc = 6562745 | doi = 10.3390/bs9050057 | url = | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="pmid35470032">{{cite journal | vauthors = Salazar de Pablo G, Jordá CP, Vaquerizo-Serrano J, Moreno C, Cabras A, Arango C, Hernández P, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, Simonoff E, Fusar-Poli P, Santosh P, Cortese S, Parellada M | title = Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Efficacy of Pharmacological Interventions for Irritability and Emotional Dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Predictors of Response | journal = J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry | volume = 62| issue = 2| pages = 151–168| date = April 2022 | pmid = 35470032 | doi = 10.1016/j.jaac.2022.03.033 | s2cid = 248371519 | url = | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="pmid19379093">{{cite journal | vauthors = Mercer D, Douglass AB, Links PS | title = Meta-analyses of mood stabilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: effectiveness for depression and anger symptoms | journal = J Pers Disord | volume = 23 | issue = 2 | pages = 156–74 | date = April 2009 | pmid = 19379093 | doi = 10.1521/pedi.2009.23.2.156 | url = }}</ref><ref name="pmid27482998">{{cite journal | vauthors = Kim S, Boylan K | title = Effectiveness of Antidepressant Medications for Symptoms of Irritability and Disruptive Behaviors in Children and Adolescents | journal = J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol | volume = 26 | issue = 8 | pages = 694–704 | date = October 2016 | pmid = 27482998 | doi = 10.1089/cap.2015.0127 | url = }}</ref><ref name="pmid33656478">{{cite journal | vauthors = Rahmani E, Lemelle TM, Samarbafzadeh E, Kablinger AS | title = Pharmacological Treatment of Agitation and/or Aggression in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review of Reviews | journal = J Head Trauma Rehabil | volume = 36 | issue = 4 | pages = E262–E283 | date = 2021 | pmid = 33656478 | doi = 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000656 | s2cid = 232102347 | url = }}</ref> These include [[selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor]] (SSRI) [[antidepressant]]s like [[sertraline]], certain [[anticonvulsant]] [[mood stabilizer]]s, [[antipsychotic]]s like [[aripiprazole]], [[risperidone]], and [[olanzapine]], and [[benzodiazepine]]s like [[midazolam]], among others.<ref name="pmid30721802" /><ref name="pmid19379093" /><ref name="pmid35470032" /><ref name="pmid27482998" /><ref name="pmid31126061" /><ref name="pmid33656478" /> Another meta-analysis of antidepressants and aggression found no change in aggression in adults and increased aggression in children.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sharma T, Guski LS, Freund N, Gøtzsche PC | title = Suicidality and aggression during antidepressant treatment: systematic review and meta-analyses based on clinical study reports | journal = BMJ | volume = 352 | issue = | pages = i65 | date = January 2016 | pmid = 26819231 | pmc = 4729837 | doi = 10.1136/bmj.i65 | url = }}</ref> [[Psychostimulant]]s like [[methylphenidate]] and [[amphetamine type stimulant|amphetamine]]s as well as the [[atypical antipsychotic]] risperidone are useful in reducing aggression and [[oppositional behavior|oppositionality]] in children and adolescents with [[attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder]] (ADHD), [[antisocial personality disorder]], and [[autism spectrum disorder]] with moderate to large [[effect size]]s and greater effectiveness than other studied medications.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Pringsheim T, Hirsch L, Gardner D, Gorman DA | title = The pharmacological management of oppositional behaviour, conduct problems, and aggression in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Part 1: psychostimulants, alpha-2 agonists, and atomoxetine | journal = Can J Psychiatry | volume = 60 | issue = 2 | pages = 42–51 | date = February 2015 | pmid = 25886655 | pmc = 4344946 | doi = 10.1177/070674371506000202 | url = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Pringsheim T, Hirsch L, Gardner D, Gorman DA | title = The pharmacological management of oppositional behaviour, conduct problems, and aggression in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Part 2: antipsychotics and traditional mood stabilizers | journal = Can J Psychiatry | volume = 60 | issue = 2 | pages = 52–61 | date = February 2015 | pmid = 25886656 | pmc = 4344947 | doi = 10.1177/070674371506000203 | url = }}</ref> Yet another meta-analysis found that methylphenidate slightly reduced [[irritability]] while amphetamines increased the risk of irritability several-fold in children with ADHD.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Stuckelman ZD, Mulqueen JM, Ferracioli-Oda E, Cohen SC, Coughlin CG, Leckman JF, Bloch MH | title = Risk of Irritability With Psychostimulant Treatment in Children With ADHD: A Meta-Analysis | journal = J Clin Psychiatry | volume = 78 | issue = 6 | pages = e648–e655 | date = June 2017 | pmid = 28682529 | doi = 10.4088/JCP.15r10601 | url = }}</ref> Other research has found no impact of [[amphetamine]] or [[methamphetamine]] on aggression in humans.<ref name="OMalleyHartCasey2022">{{cite journal | vauthors = O'Malley KY, Hart CL, Casey S, Downey LA | title = Methamphetamine, amphetamine, and aggression in humans: A systematic review of drug administration studies | journal = Neurosci Biobehav Rev | volume = 141 | issue = | pages = 104805 | date = October 2022 | pmid = 35926727 | doi = 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104805 | url = }}</ref>

===Suppression===
Modern psychologists point out that [[Expressive suppression|suppression]] of anger may have harmful effects. The suppressed anger may find another outlet, such as a physical symptom, or become more extreme.<ref name="AngerTheory"/><ref>"Anger". Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, 2nd ed. [[Thomson Gale|Gale Group]], 2001.</ref> John W. Fiero cites [[Los Angeles riots of 1992]] as an example of sudden, explosive release of suppressed anger. The anger was then displaced as violence against those who had nothing to do with the matter. There is also the case of [[Francine Hughes]], who suffered 13 years of domestic abuse. Her suppressed anger drove her to kill her abuser husband. It is claimed that a majority of female victims of domestic violence who suppress their aggressive feelings are unable to recognize, experience, and process negative emotion and this has a destabilising influence on their perception of agency in their relationships.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Cupid's Knife: Women's Anger and Agency in Violent Relationships|last=Stein|first=Abby|publisher=Routledge|year=2014|isbn=978-0-415-52786-6|location=New York|page=1}}</ref> Another example of widespread deflection of anger from its actual cause toward [[scapegoating]], Fiero says, was the blaming of [[Jews]] for the economic ills of [[Germany]] by the [[Nazi]]s.<ref name="Ethics"/>

Some psychologists criticized the catharsis theory of aggression, which suggests that releasing pent-up anger reduces aggression.<ref>Evidence against catharsis theory:
* {{cite news |last=Burkeman |year=2006 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jan/26/healthandwellbeing.features |title=Anger Management |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=2016-12-13 |archive-date=2016-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424091453/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jan/26/healthandwellbeing.features |url-status=live }}
* {{cite journal |last=Green |year=1975 |title=The facilitation of aggression by aggression: Evidence against the catharsis hypothesis |journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology |display-authors=etal |doi=10.1037/0022-3514.31.4.721 |pmid=1159613 |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=721–726|citeseerx=10.1.1.366.6962 }}
Evidence for: {{cite journal |last2=Feshbach |first2=Seymour |last1=Murray |first1=Joan |title=Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater: The catharsis hypothesis revisited |journal=Journal of Personality |volume=46 |issue=3 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-6494.1978.tb01012.x |year=1978 |pages=462–473}}</ref> On the other hand, there are experts who maintain that suppression does not eliminate anger since it merely forbids the expression of anger and this is also the case for repression, which merely hides anger from awareness.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing: A Caring Approach|last1=Davies|first1=Janet|last2=Janosik|first2=Ellen|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning|year=1991|isbn=978-0-86720-442-1|location=Boston, MA|page=[https://archive.org/details/mentalhealthpsyc0000davi/page/107 107]|url=https://archive.org/details/mentalhealthpsyc0000davi/page/107}}</ref> There are also studies that link suppressed anger and medical conditions such as [[hypertension]], [[coronary artery disease]], and [[cancer]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Anger Disorders: Definition, Diagnosis, And Treatment|last=Kassinove|first=Howard|author-link=Howard Kassinove|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2013|isbn=978-1-56032-352-5|location=Oxon|page=1}}</ref><ref name="Worell-2002" /> Suppressed or repressed anger is found to cause [[irritable bowel syndrome]], [[eating disorder]]s, and [[Depression (mood)|depression]] among women.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bowers|first1=Hannah|last2=Wroe|first2=Abigail|date=2016|title=Beliefs about emotions mediate the relationship between emotional suppression and quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome|journal=Journal of Mental Health|volume=25|issue=2|pages=154–158|via=Taylor and Francis Online|doi=10.3109/09638237.2015.1101414|pmid=26635302|s2cid=24698200}}</ref><ref name="Worell-2002" /> Suppression is also referred to as a form of "self-silencing", which is described as a cognitive activity wherein an individual monitors the self and eliminate thoughts and feelings that are perceived to be dangerous to relationships.<ref name="Worell-2002" /> Anger suppression is also associated with higher rates of suicide.<ref name="Worell-2002">{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Women and Gender, Two-Volume Set: Sex Similarities and Differences and the Impact of Society on Gender|last=Worell|first=Judith|publisher=Academic Press|year=2002|isbn=978-0-12-227245-5|location=San Diego, CA|page=144|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofwo0000unse_g9b9|url-access=limited}}</ref>