Anger

("Stress"-5)

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Function of Anger

Anger is an emotion available to us to mobilize the energy necessary for a reaction .

For example: to repel aggressive behavior , to protest against an injustice , to mark fundamental disapproval .

Anger should trigger an attack reaction .

We share this reaction with animals, but it is more complex in humans.

This is a useful reaction to the 4 Levels A , C , G and U [1] of a Person.

She is at his service for the maintenance of his integrity both Physical (Level- A ) and Psychic integrity (Level- C ), or Social Integrity (Level- G ) against injustices, excesses or abuses of power or the maintenance of Cultural integrity (Level- U ).

More complex in humans

As with Fear and the other two key emotions (Grief and Joy), Anger has both a biological, physiological dimension (Level A ) shared with the animal world, and a psychological dimension (Level C ) specific to humans. The latter will have a more complex reaction that can "prevent" or "transform" the natural attack reaction.

Differ

Preventing or Transforming a reaction is due, in humans, to the existence and influence of their Psyche (Level- C ), their Life in Society (Level- G ) and their Values, their Cultural Life (Level- U ).

But this is also due to a capacity in humans that differentiates them from animals: Delaying the manifestation of emotion.

Delaying, putting off until "later" or "elsewhere" the expression of an emotion is both the best and the worst.

The best, which allows humans to "civilize" themselves, to distinguish themselves from animals.

The worst, because once the manifestation of the emotion is deferred , we too often forget that "deferring" is having "charged" an emotion that has not been "discharged". By accumulating emotional "charges" that have not been "discharged", we create, without our knowledge, the conditions for depression and burnout. For effective management of our stress, we will have to worry, later, about ways to "discharge" the "deferred" emotions (Fear, Anger, Pain, Joy).

The Physiological Mechanisms (Level-A) of Anger

• Activation of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.

• Secretion of noradrenaline [2].

• Increased energy.

• Increased blood flow to the muscles.

• Increased muscle tension.

• Preparation to attack.

The "valve" feelings

Among the 4 key emotions, we have a difficult emotion that we express little and less than the others. This is often deferred even when it would be completely acceptable for it to be expressed. It is often avoided out of fear. Its effects will be accumulated without our knowledge. A difficult emotion develops , over time, a chronic feeling that we will call a "feeling-valve". A sort of "drip-feed" expression of the avoided emotion. An ineffective expression although it discharges, in very small doses, the difficult emotion charged without our knowledge.

Here are the 4 feelings-valves that we must pay attention to:

• Through "fear of Fear ", the feeling-valve of chronic, inhibiting anxiety . A favorable ground for disabling phobias .

• Through "fear of anger," the feeling-valve of chronic, passive-aggressive frustration . A breeding ground for violent and destructive hatred .

• Through "fear of Pain " (generated by Loss), the feeling-valve of chronic averting of the gaze , of self-deception. A favorable ground for irrational denials of Reality and loss of bearings .

• Through "fear of Joy " (which generates Connection and intimacy), the feeling-valve of chronic, egocentric seduction . A favorable ground for severe losses of empathy, through fear of Fusion.

Fear, the mother of all emotions

The word "Fear" can be confusing. It should be written

• with a capital "P" when it refers to the emotion Fear in the face of danger

• and with a lowercase "p" when it means "fear of being afraid" or "fear of being angry" etc.

In the latter case, it is the feeling of anxiety associated with Fear. Anxiety is a feeling present in any dysfunction of the 4 key emotions.

And then what?

We have just begun to get to know the second of the four key emotions (fear, anger, grief, joy).

We are going to get to know the third key emotion: Pain.

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The Next Episode: The Pain .

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References

[1] See the series , an introduction to the Model-2L, on the Matrix-2L .

[2] Noradrenaline : A hormone and neurotransmitter, it belongs to the catecholamine family, like adrenaline and dopamine. It is produced primarily in the brain and by nerve fibers of the sympathetic nervous system, but also in smaller quantities by the adrenal glands. Like adrenaline, it is involved in the "fight or flight" response, but noradrenaline is more involved in the fine regulation of alertness, wakefulness, attention, memory, and emotions. It causes vasoconstriction (reduction in the diameter of blood vessels), increases heart rate, the force of contraction of the heart, and the release of glucose into the blood.