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even being left-handed can increase your chances of getting angry.
2) Anger is totally, completely normal — to a point: Anger is one
of the most basic human emotions. Taken at face value, anger is
merely a response to abnormal or dangerous situations, and
there’s really nothing good or bad about it. What makes it good or
bad, however, is how you respond to anger.
3) “Letting it out” isn’t such a great strategy: It’s obviously better to punch a pillow rather than another person, and you will
probably spare your loved ones’ feelings if you vent in the shower. But is it really doing you any good? It can actually make your
anger worse, because it can, “foster aggression by giving permission to relax self-control.”
4) Gender plays a huge role: It’s no stretch to say that, at least
in Western culture, anger is a masculine emotion. And, as a result,
boys and girls are taught different things when it comes to managing their anger. Boys are socialized to be more aggressive, and
girls, more passive. As adults, men are more likely to express their
anger physically and impulsively; women, on the other hand, tend
to have a harder time expressing their anger, and tend to be resentful and angrier for longer than men. In the end, though, neither of
these coping mechanisms are healthy ways to deal with anger.
5) Anger affects your health: People with a short fuse, according
to several scientific studies, have an increased likelihood of suffering from heart disease and strokes.
So a connection to the source of law enforcement officers’ anger
may be found in the logical assumptions that are connected to the
stressful nature of the work and related effects cumulatively during a 25-year career. Simple things like the paradox of the work,
being supportive servants but being perceived as agent of harm
unfairly could prompt one to feel agitated on a daily basis. The
obvious connection to Post Traumatic Stress in the critical incidents that are part of an officer’s everyday life can exhaust coping
mechanisms for managing emotions effectively. The injustice and
criminal element they are forced to deal with regularly can skew
their perceptions about the world and the goodness that exists so
they may become bitter and cynical over time. Finally, the aggression they are encouraged to utilize to enforce the law and to protect civilians and themselves can be difficult to “shut off” at the
end of the day.
Don’t get me wrong. This article is not an attempt to justify any
cop’s anger, inappropriate use of force or bad behavior because
ultimately it is your responsibility to manage your anger regardless of the antagonists or experiences you encounter. Twenty-five
years of being fully “in control” at all times as a cop often seems
like a daunting task, but it is imperative that you manage your
behavior effectively. It is not that you’re expected to a ٽ