What are your beliefs about anger?

Is it a 'negative' emotion? The cause of distrust and destruction? Does it equate in your mind to aggression? Indignation? Rage?

Can anger be helpful? Does it fuel action? Motivate? Even inspire?

Our guest today, Dr. Steven Laurent is an expert on anger and the co-author of 'The Anger Fallacy: Uncovering the Irrationality of the Angry Mindset.' He argues that there is always an alternative to anger. That's not just touchy-feely psychologist-speak either. He contends that anger doesn't make sense strategically. No matter your goal or the relationship context, it turns out that getting angry does you in the eye. There are wiser ways, he says, of making your point.

In this intriguing episode, Steven and I discuss:

•Why anger is the most commonly experienced negative emotion
•The paradox of anger or why people actually like holding on to anger
•Anger fallacies, beliefs and misconceptions
•How people find themselves in a rage spiral and how to get out of it
•More progressive and useful approaches to resolving conflict
•What is "shoulding"
•The empathy factor in anger

Steven completed a PhD in Psychology at Sydney University, and Masters in Clinical Psychology at the University of New South Wales. He writes Psychology Today's anger blog, entitled Chill Pill and operates a generalist psychology practice in Sydney. He's currently working on a new book about love and relationships.

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