There are all sorts of good sensible, civilised reasons to avoid getting angry.
Not only does it make you feel bad, it makes you do stupid things without noticing the risks and it can be self-destructive.
As a result civilised people do their best to suppress, redirect and mask their anger. Most of us treat our anger as though it's unreasonable, unshowable and unmentionable.
But like all emotions anger has its purposes, which can be used to good effect.
Anger is a motivating force
You sometimes hear people talking
In one study participants were shown objects they associated with a reward. Some, though, were first exposed to angry faces. Those shown the angry faces were more likely to want objects they were subsequently exposed to (Aarts et al., 2010).
When we see something as beneficial, we want it more when we're angry. So, when used right, constructive anger can make you feel strong and powerful and help push you on to get what you want.
Angry people are more optimistic
It may sound like an odd thing to say, but angry people have something in common with happy people. That's because both tend to be more optimistic.
Take one study of fear of terrorism carried out in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In this study those experiencing anger expected fewer attacks in the future (Lerner et al., 2003). In contrast those experiencing more fear were more pessimistic（悲观的，厌世的）
Anger can benefit relationships
Anger is a natural reaction to being wronged by someone else and it's a way of communicating that sense of injustice. But society tells us anger is dangerous and we should hide it. What does this do to our personal relationships?
Oddly enough research has shown that hiding anger in intimate relationships can be detrimental (Baumeister et al., 1990). The problem is that when you hide your anger, your partner doesn't know they've done something wrong. And so they keep doing it. And that doesn't do your relationship any good.
The
Anger provides self-insight
Anger can also provide insight into ourselves, if we allow it.
A sample of Americans and Russians were asked
If we can notice when we get angry and why, then we can learn what to do to improve our lives. Anger can motivate self-change.
Anger reduces violence
Although anger often precedes physical violence, it can also be a way of reducing violence. That's because it's a very strong social signal that a situation needs to be resolved. When others see the signal they are more motivated to try and placate（抚慰） the angry party.
If you're still not convinced that anger might reduce violence, imagine a world without anger where people had no method for showing how they felt
Anger as negotiation strategy
Anger can be a legitimate way to get what you want. In one study of negotiation participants made larger concessions and fewer demands of an angry person than one who was happy (Van Kleef et al., 2002).
So there's some evidence that anger can be used as a negotiation strategy, but it's more complicated than that. You can't just lose your rag and expect to win everything you want.
Anger is likely to work best when it's justified, if you appear powerful and when the other side's options are limited (Sinaceur & Tiedens, 2006; Van Kleef et al., 2007).
In the right circumstances, then, it's possible to both get mad and get even.
相关单词：unreasonable
unreasonable解释：adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的
unreasonable例句：
I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
相关单词：constructive
constructive解释：adj.建设的，建设性的
constructive例句：
We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。
相关单词：injustice
injustice解释：n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利
injustice例句：
They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。
相关单词：detrimental
detrimental解释：adj.损害的，造成伤害的
detrimental例句：
We know that heat treatment is detrimental to milk.我们知道加热对牛奶是不利的。
He wouldn't accept that smoking was detrimental to health.他不相信吸烟有害健康。
相关单词：justifiable
justifiable解释：adj.有理由的，无可非议的
justifiable例句：
What he has done is hardly justifiable.他的所作所为说不过去。
Justifiable defense is the act being exempted from crimes.正当防卫不属于犯罪行为。
相关单词：venting
venting解释：消除； 泄去； 排去； 通风
venting例句：
But, unexpectedly, he started venting his spleen on her. 哪知道，老头子说着说着绕到她身上来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
So now he's venting his anger on me. 哦，我这才知道原来还是怄我的气。
相关单词：affected
affected解释：adj.不自然的，假装的
affected例句：
She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
相关单词：placate
placate解释：v.抚慰，平息(愤怒)
placate例句：
He never attempts to placate his enemy.他从不企图与敌人和解。
Even a written apology failed to placate the indignant hostess.甚至一纸书面道歉都没能安抚这个怒气冲冲的女主人。
相关单词：negotiation
negotiation解释：n.谈判，协商
negotiation例句：
They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。
相关单词：legitimate
legitimate解释：adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法
legitimate例句：
Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。
相关单词：concessions
concessions解释：n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权
concessions例句：
The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。
相关单词：justified
justified解释：a.正当的，有理的
justified例句：
She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。
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