The 5 types of anger and their psychological impact

There are different types of anger and not all of them are, by any means, negative or problematic.. Because although we experience this emotion in an unpleasant way, it still has meaning and usefulness. Knowing how to mobilize all that energy assertively and appropriately allows us to set limits, defend what is fair and, in many cases, reach agreements.

Every emotion has the purpose of guaranteeing our survival and helping us adapt to the environment more effectively. However, Let’s face it, nothing is as complicated to handle as anger.. They arrive like an explosion, a storm that destroys everything with that combination of anger, frustration and that physiological tension that makes the voice tremble and clouds the most rational thoughts.

There are those who, for example, have a subtle and paradoxical tendency to always live angry. There is also that part of the population that, curiously, rarely gets angry, because it feels inclined to internalize and keep silent about what upsets it; a habit that is not healthy either. Knowing how to handle displeasure, indignation and bursts of anger effectively is an art in which we should all become skilled..

Therefore, knowing the existing typologies regarding this emotion can help us know ourselves better. We analyze it.

How many types of anger are there?

Winston Churchill said that the greatness of a person is demonstrated by what arouses anger and indignation in them. Few arguments are so true; Somehow, we all know someone who has an unusual tendency to get angry at everything and every moment.

Those who have such a thin skin and at the slightest chance become kidnapped by anger and contradiction, demonstrate, without a doubt, poor emotional management. Specific anger motivated by solid reasons will always be understandable. Therefore, among the different types of state, the first is undoubtedly the justifiable one. We delve into it and those that are no longer so recommended.

1. Justifiable anger

Life is full of injustices. Feeling indignation and anger at these global circumstances and events is justifiable. As is reacting and expressing our discomfort when something affects us, when our rights are violated. Thus, in these circumstances, the most advisable thing is to act with assertiveness, security and intelligence.

Living in abusive relationships, experiencing situations that hurt us or others, demand action. It is essential to react, because injustice that is kept silent or internalized becomes latent anger.. The consequences of keeping quiet about what hurts are problematic. Knowing how to act is liberating.

2. Secondary anger (when there is another emotion behind anger)

Among all types of anger, this is one of the most common. Something we must understand about emotions like anger, rage and annoyance is that they are like the door to a room.. When we open it, we discover that something more complex and larger is hidden behind it. If we go through that entrance, we will discover that often what there is is disappointment, sadness or emotion.

We see this, for example, in many 4 or 5-year-old children who, unable to manage or understand their emotions, react with a tantrum to their frustration, disappointment or sadness.

However, this is a very common reality in adults. There are many who, far from delving into her sadness, create a layer over it to hide it and make anger her eternal calling card.

3. Unhealthy anger (the latent disorder)

We have already talked about those personalities defined by chronic anger. What is behind someone who always leads to verbal aggression, an explosion of anger, constant frustration and that whirlwind of negativity? Behind unhealthy anger is psychological disorder.

Studies, such as those carried out at Leiden University, Leiden in the Netherlands, provide evidence that These angry reactions, as well as persistent anger, hide mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

4. Instrumental anger (what I hope to get in return)

There are clearly manipulative personalities who use indignation as a blackmail mechanism. Thus, among the different types of anger, this is one that we must recognize. An example of this is the couple who gets upset at the slightest and discusses something with us in order to make us feel bad and, thus, achieve something in return.

Identifying anger as the predominant emotion in other people’s moods displeases us. We could say that it does not transmit good vibes to us; We do not want to be infected by their emotional state. So, To get your mood to change, we proceed to do what you ask of us..

5. Types of anger: passive and silent

We talked about them at the beginning. In passive anger, the person internalizes, remains silent and hides his annoyance, his anger and indignation. This is a very common emotional dynamic. It basically responds to our education, to those formulas that have been repeated to us so much. “Don’t cry, don’t get angry, that’s nothing, control yourself…”

However, there is something we must be clear about: control is not repression. Emotional health is knowing how to accept each felt state, understand it and then know how to manage it to achieve well-being and adaptation. Therefore, If we remain silent and swallow that frustration and anger, far from feeling good, what we will do is make the suffering chronic.. With this, both psychological and physical health is affected.

To conclude, given that there are different types of anger, let us be able to channel this internal reality towards that assertive mechanism with which to release what is outrageous but knowing how to respect and being able to reach agreements (if possible).

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