Anger Management Training

[Page 181]Anger is a felt, negative psychobiological state that involves cognitive misappraisal representations (e.g., “This is horrendous! I can’t handle it”), autonomic arousal (e.g., increases in heart rate and muscle tension), fantasies (e.g., “I can see myself smacking her”), and an increase in the likelihood of revenge through motor and verbal aggression. It can be classified as a short-lived emotional state or as a trait defined as an enduring proclivity to be angry in many situations. Anger is associated with both positive and negative outcomes. It can, for example, increase motivation to rectify perceived wrongs, as when a marital partner assertively expresses unhappiness with the spouse’s behavior. However, anger often requires clinical attention because it may produce negative interpersonal and intrapersonal outcomes. These include rumination, ...