Anger is a very common emotion to feel and that makes knowing your anger type very important. If one is not intentional about remaining positive sometimes every single thing can make you angry. From the morning news to traffic to bills to figuring out lunch, it is very common for one to be angry. We all feel annoyed, irritated, frustrated, or outraged from time to time.
Anger is not just shouting or fighting, it’s just a form of emotional expression. It is more complex than displaying violent behavior, shouting, or being aggressive. It can be expressed in other ways that are not violent.
Is there perhaps good anger and bad anger? Read more to find out the types of anger and maybe there might be good anger in there, who knows?
Related media: The 7 Anger Types And How To Recognize Them
Chronic Anger
The word chronic connotes something appalling, incurable, and persistent. Chronic anger is simply anger that has persisted for a long time, (usually emotional or physical abuse, neglect, hurt, and past wounds that have not healed) and can go undetected while causing a lot of harm. This is anger toward other people, situations, and even towards yourself. It is a gradual continuous feeling of anger, resentment, frustration, and irritability.
Mostly evidenced in the workplace, in relationships, and the course of daily life. Hostile comments online are a classic example of expressing chronic anger. It inhibits the ability to be compassionate and understanding.
Assertive Anger
This is considered a positive constructive expression of anger devoid of yelling or physical fighting. It is a healthier and more productive way of expressing anger. Assertive anger averts angry outbursts, makes it difficult to avoid necessary conversations, and makes way for one’s opinion and feelings to be clearly heard without dramatics.
Assertive anger should be combined with suitable body language, appropriate forms of verbal expression, and calculated methods of conflict resolution. With all these in place, it is much easier to express dissatisfaction and give constructive criticism, and this, in turn, can reduce stress levels and create healthy relationships.
Behavioral Anger & Destructive Anger
Behavioral anger is simply interactive, it is not expressed emotionally but physically. This anger type is very impulsive and because it is expressed physically, the property can be damaged and other people might be harmed including the aggressor. It is manifested by an angry person hitting a wall, throwing something, or hitting another person. Behavioral anger can be managed with therapy.
Destructive anger is a higher and more intense version of behavioral anger. Whiles behavioral anger is simply physical, destructive anger is both physical and emotional in its expression. Destructive anger is accompanied by intense hatred even when the anger is not necessary or explainable. Because it combines violence and hatred. It is very destructive.
Moral, Judgmental, Or Righteous Anger
This type of anger generates from an actual or perceived injustice against someone else or personally and also from a perceived or actual moral flow found in someone else. People who experience and express this type of anger usually believe they are justified in feeling the way they do and can pass judgment.
But this self-righteous anger can cause people to stay away and vice versa. It is almost impossible to recognize this type of anger in yourself unless you honestly figure out the root cause of your anger. It is however not as destructive as the other types.
Overwhelmed Anger
This is accumulated anger over a period when a person does not of a channel of release when they get angry. This is very detrimental to one’s mental health and can increase stress levels. Overwhelmed anger is usually expressed in sudden and explosive acts. One must find a healthy way to let go of such anger like regular exercise, taking a long walk, and having enough rest. Identify what annoys you and limit your exposure to them.
Self-Abusive Anger
This is anger that stems from feelings of shame and negative or derogatory thoughts. People who experience this type of anger internalize their feelings and take it out in self-harming ways like hunger strikes, substance abuse, unhealthy eating habits, and even cutting. Meditation, reciting positive affirmations to replace negative thoughts or views, and therapy can be used to combat this kind of anger.
Retaliatory Anger
This type of anger involves reactive actions toward people who inflict pain or hurt. It is very reciprocal, vengeful, and vindictive. It can be emotional, verbal, or physical and though it might seem fair and provide initial comfort, retaliatory anger can easily sever relationship types because it shows one is unforgiving. The best way to manage this type of anger is to wait it out and be sure the person or action deserves a reply.
Verbal Anger
This is simply expressing anger in words, yelling and shouting, making sarcastic comments, and caustic criticisms. It can just be one person or an exchange between two or more people. It can also be an abusive tool. Engaging with assertive anger techniques and taking a quick breather before expressing discontentment will help dissipate the intensity of the words used.
Passive Aggressive Anger
This is an anger type that avoids situations or confrontations. It is expressed with indirect negative reactions such as intentional indifference, sarcasm, sulkiness, and backhanded compliments. Such anger is never openly expressed or addressed.
Habitual Or Addictive Anger
People who experience or display this type of anger are most times used to and crave the rush anger brings to them. The adrenaline high is what they are addicted to and find ways to experience it consciously or unconsciously. They flare up at the least provocation and have no proper justification for why they are angry. One can take medication from certified medical personnel or take some anger management classes.
Volatile Anger
This is an unexpected outburst of extreme anger with little or no warning and can be triggered by small or large frustrations. It is usually expressed in the throwing of objects, shouting, screaming, yelling, and physical aggression. Volatile anger can be controlled by journaling, exercising, and enrolling in anger management courses.
Silent Anger
People who experience silent anger tend to keep quiet when they’re upset and internalize their anger. They often do not express any emotion when they initially feel them. Silent anger causes people to communicate non-verbally through their expressions, mannerisms, and tone of voice and so even when there is no verbal expression of anger, it is felt. They usually expect you to know why they’re angry without explicitly expressing the why.
Related media: The Power Of NOT Reacting – How To Control Your Emotions
Here’s What To Do!
As humans we can’t do away with emotions, we’re almost controlled by them. Anger is one of such strong perfectly normal emotions humans feel. It is one emotion that has the potential to be very destructive as its end or aftermath is very unpredictable. And because a lot of people repress their emotions until they explode, we must learn the type of anger we’re experiencing and find positive outlets.
Just as anger can be destructive, it can also be very helpful. Healthy anger informs us of problems we face and alerts us to make needed changes. This is why knowing your anger type and cause of anger is important because when you know what you’re experiencing it is easier to understand and control it.
Let us know if you’re angry after reading this.
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Written by: Phoebe Addo, Wed, Mar 29, 2023.