Creative Anger

Putting That Powerful Emotion to Good Use

Rhoda Baruch, Edith H. Grotberg, Suzanne Stutman

• Publisher: Praeger
• Year: 2007
• Print ISBN: 9780275998745
• eBook ISBN: 9780275998752
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: History & Theory in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

We are a nation of plenty, of opportunity, and luxury, but we are also a nation flush with fury. Homicides, assaults, domestic abuse, youth violence, and even road rage are too common, let alone everyday outbursts of temper that harm family members, friends, peers, and co-workers. The market for anti-anger, mood-stabilizing drugs is booming, as is the market for anger management counseling and classes. What is happening? In this book, a team of experts who've been traveling the nation presenting workshops on Rethinking Anger start by telling us this: Anger is normal; nature hardwired into our brains for protection. But here is the paradox. Anger out of control destroys, yet anger understood and controlled is a constructive force, one that can be used for creativity, change, and growth. Authors Baruch, Grotberg, and Stutman show us how to take charge of this powerful emotion, so it can be used in constructive ways, rather than destructive. Using the anger energy constructively can release creative potential and be liberating.

We are a nation of plenty, of opportunity, and luxury, but we are also a nation flush with fury. Homicides, assaults, domestic abuse, youth violence, and even road rage are all too common, let alone everyday outbursts of temper that harm family members, friends, peers, and co-workers. The market for anti-anger, mood-stablizing drugs is booming, as is the market for anger management counseling and classes. What is happening? In this book, a team of experts who've been traveling the nation presenting workshops on Rethinking Anger start by telling us this: Anger is normal; nature hardwired into our brains for protection. But here is the paradox. Anger out of control destroys, yet anger understood and controlled is a constructive force, one that can be used for creativity, change, and growth. Authors Baruch, Grotberg, and Stutman show us how to take charge of this powerful emotion, so it can be used in constructive ways, rather than destructive. Using anger energy constructively can release creative potential, and be liberating.

Ten years of research and workshops have honed the knowledge and skills of this author team, and here they guide us to taming our anger into a positive force. This book will be useful to all trying to tame their own anger, or that of others close to them. It will also be of interest to teachers, counselors, managers and students of psychology.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1 Skills for Creative Anger: RETHINK
• Chapter 2 RETHINKing Anger Is Good for Your Health
• Chapter 3 RETHINKing Anger Is Good for Your Relationships
• Chapter 4 Recognize Anger in Yourself and in Others
• Chapter 5 Hear with Empathy
• Chapter 6 Anger in Couples
• Chapter 7 Anger in the Family
• Chapter 8 Anger in theWorkplace
• Chapter 9 Friends and Anger, and Anger in the Community
• Chapter 10 The Anger-Violence Connection
• Chapter 11 Cultural Differences
• Chapter 12 Change Comes from Practice
• Chapter 13 Regaining a Sense of Personal Power
• Further Reading
• Index