Is Anger Hereditary?
Do you find yourself getting angry for no good reason? Are you wondering if you’re predisposed to become angry because of your genes? The truth is that this isn’t out of the question. While the role of genetics is still largely unclear, it’s possible that anger “runs in your blood” so to speak—especially if you struggle with a mental illness.
Many mental illnesses can run in families, such as bipolar disorder and major depression. And a common characteristic of each of these disorders is anger (or more accurately irritability when it comes to depression). If you’ve been uncharacteristically angry lately or think that a mental illness might be causing you to lash out in anger, there are a few steps you should take:
- Look into your family’s medical history. Are you familiar with your family’s medical history? Does bipolar disorder, depression, intermittent explosive disorder, or another mental illness that would explain these angry outbursts run in your family? Don’t be afraid to consult your family members and ask them—explain that you’re concerned about your own health and also offer them support.
- Meet with a medical or mental health professional. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a mental illness or you simply can’t come up with another explanation for your angry inclinations, meet with a medical professional. They can assess your symptoms, offer diagnosis, and help you manage any harmful symptoms (like anger). If you don’t have a mental illness, they can still help you manage your angry outbursts, especially through anger management counseling.
Did I Learn Anger? Can I Fix It?
Learned behavior might also be to blame when it comes to angry tendencies. This kind of learning can happen in two different ways:
Modeling: With modeling, children observe a behavior and then repeat it. So, if they observe violence, they are more likely to engage in violence or angry behavior. This was demonstrated in the Bobo Doll Experiment, in which different groups of children were exposed to different models: one being an aggressive model. The researchers found that the children who belonged to this aggressive model were far more likely to engage in aggressive behavior than the kids who weren’t exposed to aggression.
Reinforcement: With reinforcement, an initial aggressive act is rewarded or reinforced, which emboldens the individual to continue acting aggressively. So, for example, if lashing out in anger led to your getting what you wanted when you were a child, you’re more likely to react with anger as an adult—you learned that doing so would reap a reward.
Research suggests that, in general, just like so many aspects of personality, we are born with a range of potentiality. For example, our genetics may determine the range of our potential intelligence, but studies have increasingly emphasized that nurture plays a major role in influencing whether intelligence settles at the lower or the higher end of that potentiality. Consequently, a child will establish a degree of intelligence consistent with functioning at the higher end of his potential when he receives cognitive stimulation, is encouraged to be curious, and develops verbal as well as visual-motor skills. By contrast, a child born with the same potential but with minimal stimulation and encouragement may function at the lower level of his potential.
With regard to temperament, some children are born “thin-skinned,” quick to be reactive to stimulation, a trait that can be associated with being emotionally reactive in general. Others are more “thick-skinned,” less reactive to stimulation, and perhaps more even-keeled in their emotions.
If the child who is thin-skinned is fortunate enough to be born to parents who are more thick-skinned, he may be sufficiently calmed and reassured and helped to learn skills to be more resilient. Additionally, parents who provide calmness, safety, and validation help a child to develop greater emotional intelligence, which includes the capacity to be self-soothing and sit with uncomfortable affect.
By contrast, a thin-skinned child whose parents are similarly thin-skinned may result in interactions that only contribute to heighten his reactivity to stimulation and excitability in general.
Clearly, children who are more thin-skinned may have a greater tendency to be reactive with anger. This makes sense since anger is about a perceived threat as well as a reaction to other negative emotions and knee-jerk appraisals regarding potentially triggering events.
Anger arises when chemicals (neurotransmitters) impact our physiology to cause an increased rate of heartbeat, higher blood pressure, more rapid breathing, etc. These neurotransmitters attach themselves to proteins called receptors and turn them on. When they reach a sufficient number, other proteins are also turned on, then leading to bodily changes. Our genes drive how these interact.
Research during the last decade has found that the relationship between our genes and anger and aggression is quite complex. One study, for example, found that people who are genetically predisposed toward aggression appear to have diminished functioning in the brain regions that help to control emotions (Denson, Dobson-Stone, Ronay, et. al., 2014). They studied the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene, one that has been found to have the most robust association with aggression in humans. Men who are aggressive can have a high or low functioning version of this gene. These impact the functioning of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and dopamine), which help regulate emotions.
One study suggests that men who have a low functioning version of the gene might be more likely to become aggressive, but only when provoked (McDermott, Tingley, Cowden, et. al.,2009). Research in this area is determined to explore the interactions of genes with brain structure and how they impact our predisposition toward anger and aggression. However, the current perspective is that our genetics can influence our quickness for anger arousal.
Research may become more precise in determining the genetic influence on anger and aggression. And, perhaps findings from such research can lead to biological interventions to better address different forms of anger and aggression.
Why does it matter?
A primary reason for identifying contributions that nature makes is in treatment planning. For example, some anti-epileptic medications have been found to be helpful with intermittent explosive disorder (IEP), a chronic disorder involving intense outbursts that include rage, irritability, and increased energy. Additionally, antidepressants have also been found to be helpful, as depression is often associated with a greater tendency toward irritability.
Additionally, knowing the belief of clients I work with is also important in treatment. For this reason, I asked Kevin a question I pose to all of my clients — “Why does it matter? What thoughts and feelings arise if you believe it’s caused by nature or if you conclude it is based on nurture?”
Some individuals immediately respond that it doesn’t matter. Others, who have achieved increased honesty with themselves — and with me — share their preference that their anger be based on genetics. “If that’s the case, I feel less responsible for my anger,” “I feel less guilty about my anger,” and, “Then, I believe I can’t change it” are a few of the typical answers when nature is viewed as the dominant contributing factor.
Others share that viewing nurture as the dominant contributing factor leaves them more hopeful regarding change. They believe that if their past experience shaped them, they can have new experiences to correct their habits. Certainly, concluding that they do not have any free will keeps many individuals from engaging in the commitment to change.
I’ve also observed that some clients with anger issues seem to hold onto them as if doing so reflects a sense of loyalty to the angry parent. With or without awareness, it can become a thread of connection, a sense of bonding, and camaraderie. This is helpful to explore as this function of anger can strongly compete with the desire for change.
Research and my clinical observation inform me that, like many aspects of our personality, anger consists of a pattern of habits in our thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. Whether they are grounded in nature or nature or a combination of both, we can develop new habits regarding our reactivity and anger arousal. As with all habits, making a change requires commitment, patience, and time. And, it is a fact that makes some individuals angry, but those who have a genetic predisposition toward anger and aggression may just have to work harder to overcome their reactivity.
It’s important to remember that anger is a natural emotion that can be informative if we pause to reflect on it. By doing so, we can better recognize and address the negative feelings behind it, the physical tension associated with it, the distortions of thinking that influence our expectations, and the knee-jerk appraisals we make regarding certain events.
So, while anger is influenced by your genetic history and experience in your early development, you can develop more healthy ways of managing anger for a more fulfilling life. And like Kevin, the first step toward making a commitment to change your anger habits entails having the courage to admit that they contribute to suffering — whether with regard to your relationships, work, or in your daily life.