Embodied anger management: Embodied avoidance cues can reduce anger and aggression among individuals with high trait anger

The effects of motivational training on state anger and aggressive impulses among people varying in trait anger.

“…We also did not replicate previous studies showing that people with relatively higher levels of trait anger display higher levels of state anger or aggression after situational approach inductions (e.g., leaning forward, arm pulling), but not after avoidance inductions (e.g., leaning backward, arm pushing; Veenstra et al, 2017, unpublished results). We suspect that the lack of effects is related to the different nature of the motivational training of the present research in comparison with our previous motivation inductions.…”

“…As in Experiment 1, we predicted that participants’ level of anger and aggression would be lower after the avoidance training than after the approach training. Moreover, we expected the training to moderate the positive relation between trait anger and state anger and aggressive impulses: After the approach training trait anger should predict more state anger and aggressive impulses, in line with previous research on trait anger (Veenstra et al, 2017, unpublished results). By contrast, after the avoidance training, we expected the association between trait anger and state anger/aggressive impulses to become significantly reduced.…”

“…We predicted that activating avoidance instead of approach motivation would directly influence people’s emotional experience and behavioral aggression, given that bodily processes such as action tendencies or body posture give direct feedback on feelings, cognitions, and behavioral expressions (e.g., Feldman Barrett, Wilson-Mendenhall, & Barsalou, 2014; Niedenthal et al, 2009). Indeed, in previous research, manipulating motivational activation by asking participants to lean backward instead of forward (Harmon-Jones, Gable, & Price, 2011), consistently decreased aggressive tendencies and angry feelings in people with high levels of trait anger (Veenstra et al, 2017, unpublished results). Unexpectedly, in the present research, the motivational training failed to affect people’s angry feelings in Experiment 2.…”

“…People’s responses to emotional vignettes is in general very similar to their responses to actual emotion-arousing stimuli (Robinson & Clore, 2001), and has been widely used in emotion research, in general, and in anger research, more specifically (e.g., Rusting & Nolen-Hoeksema, 1998). The vignette we used in the present research has been successful in inducing anger in previous research (Veenstra et al, 2017, unpublished results), and read: You want to apply for a job opening at your work. To compete with the other colleagues in your department, you each have to write a renewal plan for the department.…”

“…Indeed, several lab experiments have shown that compared with approach movements, avoidance movements inhibited the relation between higher trait anger and anger and aggressive impulses (Veenstra et al, 2017, unpublished results). The avoidance movements in these experiments made use of pushing arm movements or leaning backward, which are associated with avoidant behavior.…”