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A Different View of Anger: The Cognitive‐Neoassociation Conception of the Relation of Anger to Aggression
Author(s) -
Berkowitz Leonard
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
aggressive behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.223
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1098-2337
pISSN - 0096-140X
DOI - 10.1002/ab.21432
Subject(s) - anger , psychology , aggression , cognition , arousal , feeling , poison control , perspective (graphical) , cognitive psychology , neglect , social psychology , developmental psychology , medicine , environmental health , artificial intelligence , psychiatry , computer science , neuroscience
The common, everyday understanding of anger is problematic in a number of respects—in its inattention to the prototypic nature of this emotional state; in its failure to recognize the important role often played by the critical event's aversiveness; and in its neglect of the frequently close connection between anger arousal and aggression‐related motor impulses. This article discusses all of these matters from the point of view of my cognitive‐neoassociation perspective [ B erkowitz, 1990, 1993, 2010; B erkowitz and H armon‐ J ones, 2004]. The role of automatic, nonconscious reactions is considered, and it is also emphasized that angry feelings are linked to approach motivation—movement toward the perceived source of the anger. The article also briefly summarizes relevant research dealing with the self‐regulation of anger reactions. This broad review hopefully will prompt further inquiries into the arousal, nature, and operation of anger. Aggr. Behav. 38:322‐333, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.