Anger

Anger is usually considered a basic, primary, or discrete emotion. It can arise quickly and be short-lived, which is why people must repeatedly trigger anger to maintain or gradually escalate its intensity. It typically emerges as a response to events perceived as beyond one’s control, viewed as obstructions or infringements to achieving a goal or satisfying a need.

Anger, as an ‘other-condemning’ type of moral emotion, is important in politics. It is one of the emotional responses to perceived wrongdoing, injustice, or violation of moral norms. It arises when people believe that someone or something has acted unfairly or harmed others in a way that violates their sense of justice or ethics. This judgment can be based on personal values, social norms, or cultural standards.

Anger, as a moral emotion, is often shared within a group or society. When communities experience collective anger, it can lead to movements or actions aimed at correcting widespread injustice, such as protests or campaigns for social change. The emotion of moral anger is not just about feeling hurt or frustrated; it focuses on the wrongdoer and the need for them to recognise or make amends for their actions. As such, anger plays a role in eliciting feelings of guilt. Anger is a necessary emotional component for social progress.

In politics, however, anger can have several negative consequences, both for democratic processes and for societal cohesion. It often sharpens divisions between political groups, leading to increased polarisation. When political leaders or groups exploit anger in their messages, it creates an "us versus them” mentality, making compromise and dialogue more difficult, as it fuels aggressive rhetoric and conflicts.

In extreme cases, this may cause violent protests, unrest, or even war, as angry citizens and political actors feel that taking extreme measures is justified. When anger dominates political discourse, emotional responses can overshadow rational and compromise-seeking debate.

Angry individuals are more likely to rely on gut reactions, reducing the likelihood of nuanced policy decisions or thoughtful discussions on complex issues. Frequently, angry individuals target specific groups, leading to scapegoating. This can cause discrimination, marginalisation, or even violence against those blamed for societal problems, whether they are immigrants, minority groups, or political opponents.

In some political contexts, manifestations of anger become indistinguishable from resentment, contempt, and indignation. Individuals frequently display anger along with complex emotions such as pride, contempt, outrage, vengefulness, and resentment. Irony and sarcasm often suggest underlying anger and aggression, while verbal hostility reflects the presence of anger.

In summary, our sense of justice, fairness, and ethical treatment of others are deeply intertwined with moral anger. It serves as both a personal emotional response and a collective driving force for social change.

FURTHER READING:

Beichelt, T. (2022). Homo Emotionalis: On the Systematization of Emotions in Politics. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden.

Capelos, T. (2010). Feeling the Issue: How Citizens’ Affective Reactions and Leadership Perceptions Shape Policy Evaluations. Journal of Political Marketing, 9(1–2), 9–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/15377850903583038

Erisen, C., & Vasilopoulou, S. (2022). The affective model of far‐right vote in Europe: Anger, political trust, and immigration. Social Science Quarterly, 103(3), 635-648.

Haidt, J. (2003). The moral emotions. In R. J. Davidson, K. R. Scherer, & H. H. Goldsmith (Eds.), Handbook of affective sciences (pp. 852–870). Oxford University Press.

Rozin, P., Lowery, L., Imada, S., & Haidt, J. (1999). The CAD triad hypothesis: a mapping between three moral emotions (contempt, anger, disgust) and three moral codes (community, autonomy, divinity). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76(4), 574.

Van Doorn, J., Zeelenberg, M., & Breugelmans, S. M. (2014). Anger and prosocial behavior. Emotion Review, 6(3), 261-268.

Zembylas, M. (2007). Mobilizing anger for social justice: The politicization of the emotions in education. Teaching Education, 18(1), 15-28.