Useless Study Creates Confusion About
Anger
Anger Study Endorsed by Carnegie
Mellon University
Houston, November 2005 – A recent
study on anger published on LiveScience.com sends the
wrong message to anger addicts and rageaholics, according
to James A. Baker, founder and director of the
Anger Management Training Institute. The study,
conducted by a psychologist at Carnegie Mellon University,
indicates that people who act out of anger tend to have
lower blood pressures and lower levels of the stress
hormone cortisol than people who act out of fear. These
findings, combined with results from a totally non-related
study four years ago conducted by the same researcher,
led her to conclude that people who act on their angry
feelings are healthier and more optimistic than those
who act on feelings of fear.
“What a load of bunk,” snorted
Baker. “This is just another example of a useless,
poorly designed, short-sighted study that, first of
all, doesn’t really say anything that we don’t
already know. But it says it in a way that could easily
mislead people with anger problems and encourage them
to continue their destructive behaviors instead
of getting the help they need.”
There are several flaws in the study,
according to Baker, author of the Anger Busting Workbook,
and a certified anger resolution therapist as well as
a leading authority on training and behavior improvement
programs. One problem is that the conclusions clearly
reflect only the value of balanced, healthy, appropriate
anger.
“For Heaven’s sake, there
is no real news here,” declared Baker. “We
have known for years that people who express anger within
normal, balanced boundaries are healthier and do a better
job of managing their lives. That is what the whole
process of assertiveness is designed to do –
help people channel their anger in ways that are good
and constructive. Anger is essentially a neutral emotion;
it is neither good nor bad. When you deal with it appropriately,
it will always make your life better.”
But the bigger problem, says Baker, is
that people with serious anger problems are likely to
cite this study as proof that their angry behavior is
actually good for them.
“Can you imagine a rageaholic,
a genuine wife-beater for instance, going off on his
wife and then quoting this study?” asked Baker.
“Gee, honey, I was afraid that you were going
to leave me and start running around behind my back,
and I read this study that says it is better if I act
on my anger than it is to let fear control me. So, I
yelled at you and roughed you up a little. I feel much
better now.”
Baker points out that there is a little
two-line note in the article that says chronic, explosive
anger isn’t healthy, but he believes that is too
little, too late.
“The whole tone of the article is
‘Look everybody! Getting angry is a great way
to stay healthy! Isn’t science cool?’”
he said in frustration. “Either the article is
poorly written, the study was poorly conceived, or both.”
“Look, most of the time anger arises
out of fear of something. We just don’t always
immediately make the connection.” Baker explained.
“It’s not that anger works better than fear,
it’s that fear drives anger, and we all have to
make choices about the most effective way to deal with
that. It is simply wrong – maybe irresponsible
-- to say, ‘Go ahead and get angry. It’s
better for you.’ People need good information
and real help, not junk science.”
James A. Baker is the founder and
president of the Anger Management Training Institute,
which provides anger management training resources for
corporate and private clients, as well as for court-mandated
offenders. Both online courses and live training classes
are available.
For more information, contact:
James A. Baker
Program Director
Anger Management Training Institute
1-713-627-7700
www.angermanagementseminar.com
or www.bakercommunications.com
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