ABSTRACT
We encounter anger, or wrath (the Dantean term), in many forms on a daily basis. Hot or cold, direct or meandering, a simmering or sudden outburst ± we know them all. Contrary to envy, openly displayed and self-reported anger is abundant and readily available for public scrutiny. Apart from physical pain and threats, among the most common reasons for anger are insult, betrayal, someone else failing or being incompetent, and, of course, being the target of someone else's aggression. Feeling hurt arouses a desire to take revenge on the cause of that hurt. We become angry because of something, and target the reason, or what seems to be the reason, or what is convenient, such as a scapegoat. We often experience anger as a blend of pain and pleasure ± the pain of being hurt and the pleasure from revenge and acting out the anger. Therefore, in anger there is both pleasure and power. That is why anger so easily gets out of hand.
