Anger and Aggression: An Essay on Emotion

by J. R. Averill

Overview

In recent years, a great deal has been written on the topic of aggression; another book on the same topic might seem superfluous at this time. However, the present volume is not just-or even primarily-about aggres­ sion. It is, rather, a book on anger. Anger and aggression are closely related phenomena, and it is not possible to discuss one without the other. Yet, not all anger is aggressive, nor can all aggression be attributed to anger. Therefore, somewhat different considerations apply to each. Even more importantly, the type of theoretical generalizations one can make differs depending upon whether the primary focus is on anger or aggression. The present volume is subtitled "an essay on emotion." This indicates that the generalizations to be drawn have more to do with emotional responses (e.g., grief, love, envy, etc.) than with various forms of aggression (e.g., riots, war, crimes of violence, etc.). Stated somewhat differently, anger is here being used as a paradigm case for the study of emotion, not for the study of aggression.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461257455
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	10/12/2011
Series:	Springer Series in Social Psychology
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1982
Pages:	402
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.03(d)

Table of Contents

I. Perspectives on Anger and Aggression.- 1. The Nature of Emotion.- 2. Anger and Aggression in Biological Perspective.- 3. Cross-Cultural Variations in Aggressive Syndromes.- 4. Historical Teachings on Anger.- 5. Anger and the Law.- 6. Nonnormative Sources of Anger and Aggression.- II. Empirical Studies of the Everyday Experience of Anger.- 7. Overview and Methods.- 8. Anger as Experienced by the Angry Person: Targets, Instigations, and Motives.- 9. Anger as Experienced by the Angry Person: Responses and Consequences.- 10. Experiencing Another’s Anger.- 11. Differences Between Anger and Annoyance.- 12. Temporal Dimensions of Anger: An Exploration of Time and Emotion.- 13. Differences Between Men and Women in the Everyday Experience of Anger.- 14. Epilogue.- Appendix A. Questionnaire A, Used in Studies I and III for the Description of the Subject’s Own Experience of Anger.- Appendix B. Questionnaire B, Used in Study II for the Description of the Subject’s Experiences as the Target of Another Person’s Anger.- References.- Author Index.