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Anger

preschool girl with an angry and annoyed expression

Anger is an emotion characterized by antagonism toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done you wrong.

Anger can be a good thing. It can give you a way to express negative feelings, for example, or motivate you to find solutions to problems.

But excessive anger can cause problems. Increased blood pressure and other physical changes associated with anger make it difficult to think straight and harm your physical and mental health.

Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology

Resources from APA

Preschool aged girl crying in front of dad

How to help kids cope with anger and frustration

Helping children articulate their feelings without acting on them and providing consistent consequences can help them regulate emotions

How to keep anger from getting the best of you

Psychologists discuss healthy vs. harmful anger, coping strategies, and why some forms of anger catharsis can do more harm than good

Control anger before it controls you

Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems.

How psychologists help with anger problems

Psychologists can help people avoid the triggers that make them angry and can assist in managing the inevitable anger that can flare without warning.

More resources about anger

APA books

Angry Kids, Angry Parents

$21.99

Forgiveness and Letting Go in Emotion-Focused Therapy

$60.99

Shame and Anger in Psychotherapy

$49.99

Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy for Anger, Anxiety, and Depression

$79.99

Magination Press children’s books

Josh's Smiley Faces

$9.95

What to Do When Your Temper Flares

Black Jack Jetty

My Anger

Zero to 60

Journal special issues

Aggressive Motivation

$24.95

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