The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge

Theodor Itten

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15

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The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge

Theodor Itten

Published in International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 8, Issue 3)

Received: 2 March 2020 Accepted: 8 April 2020 Published: 17 June 2020

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Abstract

Rage – a sudden outburst of explosive and often destructive anger – is part of the human condition. Yet it is one that often hits the headlines in the context of celebrity outburst, domestic violence and road rage. Whether this violent anger is directed at complete strangers or people within our social spheres, it has developed its own terminology – ‘losing one’s cool, air rage, road rage, trolley rage are all increasingly accepted as a part of the pressures of modern day. This essay offers case studies which supply new socio-psychological and therapeutic insights, based on social-anthropological data. The author goes on to explore the triggers and characteristics associated with rage, from the perspective of both perpetrator and victim. He argues that there are evolutionary factors behind the physiological manifestations of rage – conflicts between our animal instincts and our need to function as a human, in a group. Using the analogy of a volcano to capture the intense energy and unpredictability of episodes of sudden rage, he puts forward several theories for the increasing prevalence of rage in modern society. His social phenomenological research suggests that the incidence of rage is significantly higher in densely populated, industrialized and computerized societies. Drawing on his own in-depth study, carried out in Switzerland, he estimates that around of a quarter of the population are prone to rage attacks – a startlingly high proportion. Itten argues that the therapeutic practitioner has a clear role to play in helping rage sufferers to devise positive strategies to manage their explosive emotions, developing routes out of rage. An open and frank appraisal of the ugly and destructive nature of sudden rage is the starting point, working with sufferers to build a deeper sense of self-esteem and self-confidence, so that they are de-sensitized and learn strategies to defuse anger and cope with situations which previously might have resulted in another explosion.

Published in	International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 8, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15
Page(s)	56-62
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sudden Rage, Social Anthropology, Psychotherapy, Social Psychology

References

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Theodor Itten. (2020). The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 8(3), 56-62. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15

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Theodor Itten. The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2020, 8(3), 56-62. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15

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Theodor Itten. The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2020;8(3):56-62. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15,
  author = {Theodor Itten},
  title = {The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {8},
  number = {3},
  pages = {56-62},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20200803.15},
  abstract = {Rage – a sudden outburst of explosive and often destructive anger – is part of the human condition. Yet it is one that often hits the headlines in the context of celebrity outburst, domestic violence and road rage. Whether this violent anger is directed at complete strangers or people within our social spheres, it has developed its own terminology – ‘losing one’s cool, air rage, road rage, trolley rage are all increasingly accepted as a part of the pressures of modern day. This essay offers case studies which supply new socio-psychological and therapeutic insights, based on social-anthropological data. The author goes on to explore the triggers and characteristics associated with rage, from the perspective of both perpetrator and victim. He argues that there are evolutionary factors behind the physiological manifestations of rage – conflicts between our animal instincts and our need to function as a human, in a group. Using the analogy of a volcano to capture the intense energy and unpredictability of episodes of sudden rage, he puts forward several theories for the increasing prevalence of rage in modern society. His social phenomenological research suggests that the incidence of rage is significantly higher in densely populated, industrialized and computerized societies. Drawing on his own in-depth study, carried out in Switzerland, he estimates that around of a quarter of the population are prone to rage attacks – a startlingly high proportion. Itten argues that the therapeutic practitioner has a clear role to play in helping rage sufferers to devise positive strategies to manage their explosive emotions, developing routes out of rage. An open and frank appraisal of the ugly and destructive nature of sudden rage is the starting point, working with sufferers to build a deeper sense of self-esteem and self-confidence, so that they are de-sensitized and learn strategies to defuse anger and cope with situations which previously might have resulted in another explosion.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge
AU  - Theodor Itten
Y1  - 2020/06/17
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15
T2  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JF  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JO  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
SP  - 56
EP  - 62
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7420
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15
AB  - Rage – a sudden outburst of explosive and often destructive anger – is part of the human condition. Yet it is one that often hits the headlines in the context of celebrity outburst, domestic violence and road rage. Whether this violent anger is directed at complete strangers or people within our social spheres, it has developed its own terminology – ‘losing one’s cool, air rage, road rage, trolley rage are all increasingly accepted as a part of the pressures of modern day. This essay offers case studies which supply new socio-psychological and therapeutic insights, based on social-anthropological data. The author goes on to explore the triggers and characteristics associated with rage, from the perspective of both perpetrator and victim. He argues that there are evolutionary factors behind the physiological manifestations of rage – conflicts between our animal instincts and our need to function as a human, in a group. Using the analogy of a volcano to capture the intense energy and unpredictability of episodes of sudden rage, he puts forward several theories for the increasing prevalence of rage in modern society. His social phenomenological research suggests that the incidence of rage is significantly higher in densely populated, industrialized and computerized societies. Drawing on his own in-depth study, carried out in Switzerland, he estimates that around of a quarter of the population are prone to rage attacks – a startlingly high proportion. Itten argues that the therapeutic practitioner has a clear role to play in helping rage sufferers to devise positive strategies to manage their explosive emotions, developing routes out of rage. An open and frank appraisal of the ugly and destructive nature of sudden rage is the starting point, working with sufferers to build a deeper sense of self-esteem and self-confidence, so that they are de-sensitized and learn strategies to defuse anger and cope with situations which previously might have resulted in another explosion.
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Theodor Itten

Independent Researcher, St. Gallen, Switzerland

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APA Style

Theodor Itten. (2020). The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 8(3), 56-62. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15

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ACS Style

Theodor Itten. The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2020, 8(3), 56-62. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15

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AMA Style

Theodor Itten. The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2020;8(3):56-62. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15,
  author = {Theodor Itten},
  title = {The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {8},
  number = {3},
  pages = {56-62},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20200803.15},
  abstract = {Rage – a sudden outburst of explosive and often destructive anger – is part of the human condition. Yet it is one that often hits the headlines in the context of celebrity outburst, domestic violence and road rage. Whether this violent anger is directed at complete strangers or people within our social spheres, it has developed its own terminology – ‘losing one’s cool, air rage, road rage, trolley rage are all increasingly accepted as a part of the pressures of modern day. This essay offers case studies which supply new socio-psychological and therapeutic insights, based on social-anthropological data. The author goes on to explore the triggers and characteristics associated with rage, from the perspective of both perpetrator and victim. He argues that there are evolutionary factors behind the physiological manifestations of rage – conflicts between our animal instincts and our need to function as a human, in a group. Using the analogy of a volcano to capture the intense energy and unpredictability of episodes of sudden rage, he puts forward several theories for the increasing prevalence of rage in modern society. His social phenomenological research suggests that the incidence of rage is significantly higher in densely populated, industrialized and computerized societies. Drawing on his own in-depth study, carried out in Switzerland, he estimates that around of a quarter of the population are prone to rage attacks – a startlingly high proportion. Itten argues that the therapeutic practitioner has a clear role to play in helping rage sufferers to devise positive strategies to manage their explosive emotions, developing routes out of rage. An open and frank appraisal of the ugly and destructive nature of sudden rage is the starting point, working with sufferers to build a deeper sense of self-esteem and self-confidence, so that they are de-sensitized and learn strategies to defuse anger and cope with situations which previously might have resulted in another explosion.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Social Anthropology of Rage and Its Psychotherapeutic Challenge
AU  - Theodor Itten
Y1  - 2020/06/17
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15
T2  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JF  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JO  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
SP  - 56
EP  - 62
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7420
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20200803.15
AB  - Rage – a sudden outburst of explosive and often destructive anger – is part of the human condition. Yet it is one that often hits the headlines in the context of celebrity outburst, domestic violence and road rage. Whether this violent anger is directed at complete strangers or people within our social spheres, it has developed its own terminology – ‘losing one’s cool, air rage, road rage, trolley rage are all increasingly accepted as a part of the pressures of modern day. This essay offers case studies which supply new socio-psychological and therapeutic insights, based on social-anthropological data. The author goes on to explore the triggers and characteristics associated with rage, from the perspective of both perpetrator and victim. He argues that there are evolutionary factors behind the physiological manifestations of rage – conflicts between our animal instincts and our need to function as a human, in a group. Using the analogy of a volcano to capture the intense energy and unpredictability of episodes of sudden rage, he puts forward several theories for the increasing prevalence of rage in modern society. His social phenomenological research suggests that the incidence of rage is significantly higher in densely populated, industrialized and computerized societies. Drawing on his own in-depth study, carried out in Switzerland, he estimates that around of a quarter of the population are prone to rage attacks – a startlingly high proportion. Itten argues that the therapeutic practitioner has a clear role to play in helping rage sufferers to devise positive strategies to manage their explosive emotions, developing routes out of rage. An open and frank appraisal of the ugly and destructive nature of sudden rage is the starting point, working with sufferers to build a deeper sense of self-esteem and self-confidence, so that they are de-sensitized and learn strategies to defuse anger and cope with situations which previously might have resulted in another explosion.
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download