-
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Apr 2018Empathy and anger are two social emotions that modulate an individual's risk for aggression. Empathy is an emotional reaction to another individual's emotional state.... (Review)
Review
Empathy and anger are two social emotions that modulate an individual's risk for aggression. Empathy is an emotional reaction to another individual's emotional state. Anger is an emotional reaction to threat, frustration or social provocation. Reduced empathy, seen in psychopathy, increases the risk for goal-directed aggression. Atypically increased anger (i.e. irritability), seen in conditions like disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and borderline personality disorder, increases the risk for reactive aggression. In this paper, I will outline core neurocognitive functions that correspond to empathy and which are compromised in individuals with psychopathic traits. In addition, I will outline neurocognitive functions involved in either the generation or regulation of anger and which are compromised in psychiatric conditions at increased risk for irritability/reactive aggression. It can be hoped that improved understanding of empathy and anger will lead to better assessment tools and improved interventions to reduce aggression risk.This article is part of the theme issue 'Diverse perspectives on diversity: multi-disciplinary approaches to taxonomies of individual differences'.
Topics: Adult; Aggression; Anger; Antisocial Personality Disorder; Cognition; Empathy; Female; Humans; Irritable Mood; Male
PubMed: 29483341
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0155 -
Neuropsychologia Aug 2020From the perspective of constructivist theories, emotion results from learning assemblies of relevant perceptual, cognitive, interoceptive, and motor processes in...
From the perspective of constructivist theories, emotion results from learning assemblies of relevant perceptual, cognitive, interoceptive, and motor processes in specific situations. Across emotional experiences over time, learned assemblies of processes accumulate in memory that later underlie emotional experiences in similar situations. A neuroimaging experiment guided participants to experience (and thus learn) situated forms of emotion, and then assessed whether participants tended to experience situated forms of the emotion later. During the initial learning phase, some participants immersed themselves in vividly imagined fear and anger experiences involving physical harm, whereas other participants immersed themselves in vividly imagined fear and anger experiences involving negative social evaluation. In the subsequent testing phase, both learning groups experienced fear and anger while their neural activity was assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A variety of results indicated that the physical and social learning groups incidentally learned different situated forms of a given emotion. Consistent with constructivist theories, these findings suggest that learning plays a central role in emotion, with emotion adapted to the situations in which it is experienced.
Topics: Adult; Anger; Cognition; Emotions; Fear; Female; Humans; Learning; Memory; Middle Aged; Young Adult
PubMed: 29330097
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.01.008 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Jan 2023Emotions ubiquitously impact action, learning, and perception, yet their essence and role remain widely debated. Computational accounts of emotion aspire to answer these... (Review)
Review
Emotions ubiquitously impact action, learning, and perception, yet their essence and role remain widely debated. Computational accounts of emotion aspire to answer these questions with greater conceptual precision informed by normative principles and neurobiological data. We examine recent progress in this regard and find that emotions may implement three classes of computations, which serve to evaluate states, actions, and uncertain prospects. For each of these, we use the formalism of reinforcement learning to offer a new formulation that better accounts for existing evidence. We then consider how these distinct computations may map onto distinct emotions and moods. Integrating extensive research on the causes and consequences of different emotions suggests a parsimonious one-to-one mapping, according to which emotions are integral to how we evaluate outcomes (pleasure & pain), learn to predict them (happiness & sadness), use them to inform our (frustration & content) and others' (anger & gratitude) actions, and plan in order to realize (desire & hope) or avoid (fear & anxiety) uncertain outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Emotions; Anger; Happiness; Learning; Sadness
PubMed: 36435390
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104977 -
Current Psychiatry Reports Nov 2020To review the current literature on biobehavioral mechanisms involved in reactive aggression in a transdiagnostic approach. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
To review the current literature on biobehavioral mechanisms involved in reactive aggression in a transdiagnostic approach.
RECENT FINDINGS
Aggressive reactions are closely related to activations in the brain's threat circuitry. They occur in response to social threat that is experienced as inescapable, which, in turn, facilitates angry approach rather than fearful avoidance. Provocation-induced aggression is strongly associated with anger and deficits in cognitive control including emotion regulation and inhibitory control. Furthermore, the brain's reward system plays a particular role in anger-related, tit-for-tat-like retaliatory aggression in response to frustration. More research is needed to further disentangle specific brain responses to social threat, provocation, and frustration. A better understanding of the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms involved in reactive aggression may pave the way for specific mechanism-based treatments, involving biological or psychotherapeutic approaches or a combination of the two.
Topics: Aggression; Anger; Brain; Humans; Reward
PubMed: 33180230
DOI: 10.1007/s11920-020-01208-6 -
Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia Sep 2018
Topics: Anger; Cardiovascular Diseases; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans
PubMed: 30379258
DOI: 10.5935/abc.20180176 -
Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria (Sao... 2022Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate levels of anger among substance users compared to non-user controls and to analyze the possible association... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate levels of anger among substance users compared to non-user controls and to analyze the possible association between anger and psychoactive substance use (PSU).
METHODS
The procedures of this review followed the Meta-Analyzes of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIREME, PsycINFO) were searched.
RESULTS
Twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis; 10 used the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) anger trait subscale and two used the Buss-Perry-Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) anger subscale. The sample included 2,294 users of psychoactive substances and 2,143 non-users, all male. The mean difference in anger scale scores between users and non-users was 2.151 (95%CI 1.166-3.134, p ā¤ 0.00, inconsistency index [I2] = 98.83) standard deviations. Age and abstinence duration did not moderate the difference in anger between substance users and non-users.
CONCLUSION
Users of psychoactive substances had elevated anger scores compared to non-users, which represents a high risk of relapse. It is suggested that PSU treatment programs include intensive anger management modules, focusing on factors such as dealing with daily stressors, family conflicts, frustrations, and problems.
Topics: Aggression; Anger; Humans; Male; Personality Inventory; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 33605366
DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1133 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Jan 2020This review of the neuroscience of anger is part of The Human Affectome Project, where we attempt to map anger and its components (i.e., physiological, cognitive,... (Review)
Review
This review of the neuroscience of anger is part of The Human Affectome Project, where we attempt to map anger and its components (i.e., physiological, cognitive, experiential) to the neuroscience literature (i.e., genetic markers, functional imaging of human brain networks) and to linguistic expressions used to describe anger feelings. Given the ubiquity of anger in both its normative and chronic states, specific language is used in humans to express states of anger. Following a review of the neuroscience literature, we explore the language that is used to convey angry feelings, as well as metaphors reflecting inner states of anger experience. We then discuss whether these linguistic expressions can be mapped on to the neural circuits during anger experience and to distinct components of anger. We also identify relationships between anger components, brain networks, and other affective research relevant to motivational states of dominance and basic needs for safety.
Topics: Aggression; Amygdala; Anger; Cerebral Cortex; Humans; Nerve Net; Psycholinguistics; Self-Control
PubMed: 31809773
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.002 -
Journal of the American Academy of... May 2022Irritability is a defining feature or symptom in at least 15 DSM-5 disorders, and this does not even account for many more disorders that commonly co-occur with...
Irritability is a defining feature or symptom in at least 15 DSM-5 disorders, and this does not even account for many more disorders that commonly co-occur with irritability. However, just as the transdiagnostic nature of irritability supports its unequivocal importance in child mental health, it also contributes to criticisms that it is "ubiquitous." How to conceptualize the role of irritability in psychopathology rests on our ability to define it and its boundaries. Unfortunately, there is a lack of consensus on the definition of irritability. In fact, how to disentangle irritability's mood and behavioral components has been described as one of the biggest challenges related to irritability research. This editorial is a commentary on Zik et al.'s study, which takes an emprical approach to determine the overlap between questionnaire measures of irritability, anger, and aggression, thereby informing our conceptualization of irritabiltiy and focusing attention on critical measurement issues such as the impact of informant.
Topics: Aggression; Anger; Child; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Humans; Irritable Mood
PubMed: 35151791
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2022.02.001 -
Acta Psychologica Apr 2022Poetry evokes emotions. It does so, according to the theory we present, from three sorts of simulation. They each can prompt emotions, which are communications both...
Poetry evokes emotions. It does so, according to the theory we present, from three sorts of simulation. They each can prompt emotions, which are communications both within the brain and among people. First, models of a poem's semantic contents can evoke emotions as do models that occur in depictions of all kinds, from novels to perceptions. Second, mimetic simulations of prosodic cues, such as meter, rhythm, and rhyme, yield particular emotional states. Third, people's simulations of themselves enable them to know that they are engaged with a poem, and an aesthetic emotion can occur as a result. The three simulations predict certain sorts of emotion, e.g., prosodic cues can evoke basic emotions of happiness, sadness, anger, and anxiety. Empirical evidence corroborates the theory, which we relate to other accounts of poetic emotions.
Topics: Anger; Anxiety; Emotions; Happiness; Humans; Semantics
PubMed: 35101737
DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103506 -
BMC Public Health May 2023Previous research has indicated that anger and aggression may be elevated in adolescents with a bulimia nervosa (BN) diagnosis. However, as yet, little is known about...
BACKGROUND
Previous research has indicated that anger and aggression may be elevated in adolescents with a bulimia nervosa (BN) diagnosis. However, as yet, little is known about whether bulimia symptoms are linked to anger and aggression in adolescents in the general population. To address this deficit this study aimed to explore the associations between a clinical level of bulimia symptoms (CLBS) and anger, anger rumination and aggression in community-based adolescents, and determine whether gender is important in this context.
METHODS
This study was conducted on a representative sample of youth from northwestern Russia (nā=ā2613, age 13-17 years old, 59.5% female) using self-report scales. A proxy variable for a CLBS was created using the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale. Aggression, anger and anger rumination were assessed by the Trait Anger Scale of the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the Anger Rumination Scale, and scales created to assess physically and verbally aggressive behavior. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to examine the associations between the study variables.
RESULTS
A CLBS was more prevalent in girls than in boys (13.4% vs. 3.5%). The association with anger and aggression was stronger in both genders with a CLBS, compared to those adolescents without a CLBS. In the CLBS group, boys as compared to girls scored higher on verbal and physical aggression, anger rumination and social aggression. In both the CLBS and Non-CLBS groups higher anger and aggression scores were associated with increasing age.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that aggression and anger rumination are elevated in adolescents with BN symptoms, and that the associations between anger, aggression and BN symptoms may be stronger in boys. As previous research has indicated that the presence of aggressive behaviors may affect the prognosis of BN and complicate management of the disorder, clinician screening for these behaviors in adolescents with BN symptoms may facilitate the provision of more effective treatment, especially among boys.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adolescent; Male; Bulimia Nervosa; Bulimia; Aggression; Anger; Personality Inventory
PubMed: 37147644
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15664-1