Dig deep enough into how the human body functions and you’ll eventually find that the feeling universally known as anger is the sum total of a range of biological processes.
Sure, that sum total comprises tens of billions of neurons, interacting through an indescribably complex system of hormones and electrochemical pulses. And yet, despite the extraordinary complexity, those processes nonetheless follow logical rules, determined by this universe that we inhabit.
It’s a state of being that is neatly articulated in The cat and the coin, an obscure 1975 science-fiction story by one Keith Wells, in which one of the characters says: “Human beings are chemical equations, no matter how complex.”
Anger is a biochemical process
All human bodies undergo physical transformations when experiencing the emotion of anger. Amongst these measurable and often visible changes are things like rapid breathing and increased heart rate, flushing of the skin, dilated pupils or even increased pain resistance (consider this: it is often possible to tell that a person is extremely angry just by looking at them).
These changes are manifestations of the body’s response to a threat – and they occur because, previously in our evolution, anger became an essential survival mechanism. Increased blood flow to muscles aids the fight or flight response when, say, confronted with a predator; dilated pupils can help identify lurking threats; the release of blood sugar provides the body with additional energy; and so forth.
All these things helped us stay alert, remain resilient, and increased our likelihood of survival.
The problem is, so much of the modern world is almost unrecognisable to that of our primitive ancestors, yet our bodies remain optimised to respond to the same old threats that shaped our evolution over millions of years.
No one today experiences the stresses of evading a half-ton Smilodon or hunting a six-ton mammoth. Nor do most people in Western society have to contend with the existential menace of not being able to acquire food (shamefully, this is not the case in other parts of the world).
Yet these fleshy bodies of ours are still programmed to respond as they always have when confronted with a threat.
That means that instead of helping us survive a predator coming too close, our anger is directed at some jerk in peak hour traffic who swerved ahead of us. Instead of heightening our senses to help acquire food, we become irate at the lateness of our cappuccino or the fast food server’s perceived insolence. And instead of asserting our willingness to protect the tribal unit, we blow up over the phone at the hapless customer service representative.
It’s in our DNA
The cliché “it’s in our DNA” comes to mind, because for once it’s true. Every emotion we experience occurs because the underlying biological processes are intended to aid our ongoing existence. The fact that we carry the legacy of descending from savage creatures hellbent on survival is an inescapable aspect of being human.
And yet, humans have one incredible advantage over all known living creatures. Namely: no other being knows that what they’re experiencing are biological processes.
When we feel angry, when we feel our impulses take hold (our “passions” as ancient philosophers used to call it) we usually understand, deep down, that we what we’re experiencing may have consequences.
No other creature knows this. And this makes us humans unique.
Unlike any other living being, we generally know when we are experiencing anger. And to be aware of something is to know we can choose to attempt to channel those biological impulses towards something useful or creative.
No one said it was easy. Indeed, anger can seem overwhelming, if not outright uncontrollable. That’s what makes it such an intense emotion. Yet our species is unique precisely because we know anger can seem overwhelming or uncontrollable.
So what will you do next time you become aware that your body is undergoing the physical transformation that you know as anger?
Will you rage and destroy? Will you stew in your own indignant juices until you corrode from the inside? Will you let unrestrained anger damage your friendships and relationships, your social standing, maybe your job and finances, or even lead to a criminal conviction?
Or will you harness those reserves and channel them into creative or admirable things. Will you transform those physical changes – those very changes that helped release the raw energy buried within – into actions that are noble, just or creative accomplishments.