The emotion of anger plays a significant role in psychotherapy, since it is a complex aspect of human experience that can profoundly influence emotional well -being and interpersonal relationships.
In therapeutic contexts, anger is often examined as an indicator of dysfunctional schemes and past emotional experiences that can have an impact on the mental health of an individual.
Through therapy, we try to understand the deep roots of anger, exploring its manifestation in different ways and contexts. Therapeutic work aims not only to managing anger in a healthier way, but also to transform the dysfunctional dynamics associated with this emotion, promoting personal growth and positive change.
What is the function of anger?
Anger is an emotion that performs different biological, psychological and social functions. Some of the main functions of anger include:
- Threat reporting: anger can be a natural response to situations perceived as threatening or harmful. This emotion prepares the body to respond to a potential challenge or danger.
- Defense and protection: anger can act as a defense mechanism, protecting the individual from perceived situations as unjust or harmful. In this way, anger can motivate actions that aim to restore balance or justice.
- Expression of needs and desires: anger can be a way to express needs or desires not satisfied. Through the expression of anger, an individual can try to communicate his need for attention, respect or satisfaction of certain needs.
- Regulation of personal borders: anger can be involved in the definition and maintenance of personal borders. It can be used to communicate to others that certain behaviors or actions are unacceptable.
- Mobilization to action: anger can motivate action and assertiveness. In certain contexts, it can be an engine to make positive changes or to face challenges.
It is important to note that, if managed constructively, anger can contribute to emotional well -being and personal growth. However, when it becomes excessive or uncontrolled, it can have negative consequences on mental health and relationships.
The manifestations of anger in Therapy scheme
The Therapy scheme is a therapeutic approach that developed in the 90s (Young et al., 2018) which integrates elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamics and gestalt therapy.
It develops starting from what are called “early maladative schemes”, acquired during childhood and defined as pervasive life patterns that influence cognitions, emotions, social perceptions, relationship methods and behaviors.
The dysfunctional schemes They originate in past experiences of neglect, abandonment or abuse and in the not sufficient satisfaction of primary life needs. For example, those of security, love and acceptance, autonomy and sense of competence, the possibility of having realistic limits, free expression of needs and emotions, game.
Anger therefore becomes a fundamental emotion to be treated precisely because it can emerge as a protective response or as a manifestation of not satisfied emotional needs.
The roots are explored, identified the associated schemes, analyzed the dysfunctional strategies possibly used by the person to develop ways and strategies to face even anger in a healthier way.
In some cases, anger can be directed towards the therapist during the sessions, offering an opportunity to explore relational dynamics and attachment patterns. The goal is often transform anger into a deeper awareness of one’s emotions and needsfavoring personal growth and positive change.
The concept of fashions in Therapy scheme
The patterns are connected to different patterns of behavioral and experiential which are called “fashions”.
Fashions are specific cognitive, emotional and behavioral configurations that a person can experience in different situations or stages of everyday life. Each mode represents an aspect or part of the personality of an individual and can emerge in response to certain stimuli or experiences.
The methods are categorized in different types, each with its own characteristics and functions. The Therapy scheme works on recognition and understanding therefore not only of the patterns, but also of these ways to help people better understand their emotional and behavioral functioning.
The goal is to work on dysfunctional modalities, transforming them into healthier and more adaptive mode to promote positive change and improve the overall well -being of the patient.
The fashions characterized by anger
The “angry fashions” in Therapy scheme refer to modalities involving anger as a central element. They represent parts of the personality of an individual and can emerge in certain situations or in response to certain triggers in various ways, such as open anger, chronic irritability or repressed anger.
The angry baby
This mode represents the part of the personality linked to the childhood experiences of abandonment or mistreatment and manifests anger as a response to unresolved emotional injuries.
The angry child is usually activated when an emotional wound is touched and the painful patterns have been activated. The person can experience one intense, furious, impatient anger Because emotional needs are not paid. It rebels, expresses injustice.
The purpose of this mode is not only to protest, but also to show one’s feelings and the reasons for so much pain in order to get listening and what you need. But anger is expressed in an un appicked way
The angry protector
This mode is activated to protect the self from vulnerability and emotional pain, using anger as defense.
The angry protector emerges when people perceive a threat or when they activate schemes involving experiences of abandonment, neglect or mistreatment.
For fear of being injured, the person seeks protection behind a wall of anger. Anger therefore becomes a defensive response for mask other emotions Like the sense of vulnerability, sadness, fear or shame.
It is a controlled, cold anger, which keeps the others distant.
The angry self -financer
This mode can be manifested with attitudes of superiority, arrogance, search for admiration and status, aggression, hostility, devaluation of the other.
These manifestations represent a defensive and hypercompensa mode compared to experiences of loss of value and refusal.
The anger masks such difficult experiences and is used as a shield to mask feelings of insecurity or inadequacy.
The internalized critic
The “punitive critic” is a specific way within the therapy of the patterns.
This aspect of the personality is characterized by an internal critical and severe dialogue, often turned towards oneself. It induces guilt and punishes with hard and intolerant messages (e.g. “I am always wrong … you don’t understand anything …”).
It is a reflection of the critical and punitive way in which significant people spoke to the person during his childhood. Contains distorted beliefs and is characterized by contempt and anger.
The punitive critic can be particularly activated in situations in which a person feels inadequate or makes mistakes, even when the therapist shows understanding and validation towards the patient, that is, when it transmits opposite messages compared to those contained in this fash.
The overwhelming violent
This mode refers to a part of the personality which is characterized by aggressive behavior, anger of anger explosively And sometimes, physically dangerous behaviors.
It is often associated with experiences of mistreatment or abuse in childhood. Use threats, intimidation and attacks To achieve what he wants or to protect himself from perceived or real damage, which can also be the approach of the other, perceived as dangerous.
Protection passes from dominating and making others feel defenseless.
The work on anger in Therapy scheme
In general in the Therapy scheme, we try first of all to recognize the patterns and the mode related to anger. The exploration implies when these modalities are activated, identifying the underlying needs not satisfied, developing more adaptive ways to deal with life situations.
The emotional roots and past experiences related to them are explored.
The Angry baby He needs validation of the needs below but also needs to have the right limits to his behavior and to learn to express himself more effectively and functionally.
The protective modalities such as the angry protector, the overbearing violent and the self -financer need to recognize their protective function and understand the motivations of that angry attitude.
But the treatment also needs to put the light the negative effects of this way that, even if it has also helped the person to survive in unfavorable environments in the early stages of life, used now too much and for too long it does not allow the person to really receive what he needs.
The critical and punitive parts need an important psychoeducative and experiential work that aims to reformulate and re -proportionate hypercritical, hypereasigent and punitive messages.
A more compassionate and balanced internal dialogue is favored.
Angry fashions are treated and regulated so that they can be integrated harmoniously with other aspects of personality, promoting a healthier emotional balance and promoting positive change. A healthier connection is favored with emotions, acceptance of one’s genuine feelings by overcoming the need to mask them and promoting a more effective management of behavior.
Bibliography
- ARNTZ and GITTA (2013). Therapy scheme in action. Theory and practice. ISC Ed.
- Young et al. (2018). Therapy scheme. Cognitive – behavioral therapy integrated for personality disorders. Erickson
