Psychology 409a, September 12, 2005

Psychology 409a, September 12, 2005

My first Outline of Assigned Readings

By Julia Dailey

Why Anger?

Leon James and Diane Nahl (2000). Road Rage and Aggressive Driving: Steering Clear of Highway Warfare . Amherst, New York; Prometheus Books. Pages 32-43.

Instructions for this activity are found at:

www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/409a-g23-oral.htm

Instructor: Dr. Leon James

Concept One: The Anger Choice

A. The Anger Choice proposes that people have a moment between their physical and emotional reaction to a threatening event, in which they can decide whether or not to be angry. Further, even if one should decide to be angry they then have the choice of becoming aggressive.

B. One can see examples of the Anger Choice in the everyday events that cause frustration such as waiting at the DMV, or encounters with a store clerk who is ignoring you. Understand that those people who are angry and aggressive made the choice to feel that emotion and the choice to become aggressive.

C. I picked this concept because I, like most people, had been under the impression that people who are angry and aggressive “cannot help it; that is just how they are.”

Concept Two: Anger is Harmful

A. Rather than being the emotional release that it was long viewed to be, anger is now being seen as a cause illness and further emotional imbalance.

B. An example would be the joke of many sitcoms, a man yelling and screaming suddenly dying of a heart attack.

C. I agree with this concept, and I think is it very import for people to realize the dangers of anger.

Concept Three: Developing Emotional Literacy

A. Emotional Literacy is the awareness of one’s own thoughts and emotions. This awareness is important because it allows one to change any harmful thoughts and feelings.

B. Interestingly, Emotional Literacy is quite prevalent in a very violent setting, boxing. Boxers have to be very aware of their thoughts as they cannot let anger cloud their judgment, if they do allow anger to enter the fight, they will either lose or break the rules. By being aware they are able to talk themselves down when they start to get mad.

C. I picked this concept because it is essential to lessening aggressive behavior. I first thought that it sounded far too difficult to achieve, but with training I believe that everyone would be capable of thinking this way.

Class Links:

Dailey homepage

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