> It is tautologically obvious why expressing anger does not result in reduced anger in the long term, and why practicing subduing your anger is beneficial.
It isn't obvious at all to me and doesn't match my experience.
It isn't obvious at all to me and doesn't match my experience.
Aggressive expressions don't work long term because they reinforce the behaviour of outwardly and rapidly being angry.
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027273582...
I agree, in the short term anger can have negative consequences. But longer term, as you ruminate on the causes of anger, you can be more objective and see that the reaction may have been an overreaction and unproductive. You might even have regret (I've certainly felt regret).
If I always subdued my anger, I'd probably end up like the dog in the this is fine meme (and I'm not an angry person!).