Anger In The Brain

The process of the brain experiencing anger consists of several steps and a series of physiological events. Something must first set the person off; some people are more easily triggered than others. When anger is triggered, chemicals are released; and then other chemicals are released to help calm a person down. If the person does not calm down, they can experience uncontrollable anger or rage from a couple of different things. To prevent anger from happening (or at least lessen it), there are some steps a person can take that will ultimately help with controlling their anger. Anger varies from person to person and everyone handles it in a different way. When anger is triggered, the body is affected physiologically and psychologically. The brain has to be affected first, and then the body; neurotransmitters and hormones (like adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol) are released by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) which result in awareness, responsiveness, bursts of energy, and a lasting state of arousal to invoke heavy anger responses ("The Effects..." 5,6 and Mills 1). With the help of the amygdala, almond-shaped structure in the brain in charge of emotions, anger is then initiated …show more content…
According to a study done on teenagers with inappropriately hostile, aggressive behavior, another cause is linked to the hyperactive response in the amygdala followed by lessening activity in the prefrontal cortex (“The Effects…” 6). One should want to avoid rage because it can be dangerous; as a person loses control, one may say things that one normally would conceal, become violent, can result in the loss of a job or relationship, etc. and is shown to increase the risk for health problems (Alvarez 2). To avoid rage, one can use techniques to calm