Citation

Butler MH, Meloy-Miller KC, Seedall RB, Dicus JL. Fam. Process 2018; 57(3): 817-835.

Affiliation

School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Family Process Institute, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/famp.12311

PMID

28736892

Abstract

Anger is a significant human emotion with far-reaching implications for individuals and relationships. We propose a transactional model of anger that highlights its relational relevance and potentially positive function, in addition to problematic malformations. By evolutionary design, physical, self-concept, or attachment threats all similarly trigger diffuse physiological arousal, psychologically experienced as anger-emotion. Anger is first a signaling and motivational system. Anger is then formed to affirming, productive use or malformed to destructive ends. A functional, prosocial approach to anger organizes it for protective and corrective personal and relational adaptation. In our model, threat perception interacts with a person's view of self in relation to other to produce helpful or harmful anger. Inflated or collapsed views of self in relation to other produce distinct manifestations of destructive anger that are harmful to self, other, and relationship. Conversely, a balanced view of self in relation to other promotes constructive anger and catalyzes self, other, and relationship healing. Clinical use of the model to shape healing personal and relational contact with anger is explored.

© 2017 Family Process Institute.

Language: en

Keywords

Adaptation; Anger; Constructive Anger; Destructive Anger; Forgiveness; Healing; Relationship Correction; Threat Perception; View of Self in Relation to Other; ira; punto de vista del yo y del otro; recomposición/recuperación de la relación; terapia de pareja; 伴侣心理治疗; 关系修复; 对于他人和自我的认识; 愤怒