Anger Might Be a Motivator for Achieving Challenging Goals

Anger, often regarded as a negative emotion, has the potential to be a powerful motivator that drives individuals to achieve challenging goals in their lives, according to recent research. This study challenges the prevailing notion that happiness is the ideal emotional state for mental health and well-being, highlighting the importance of a balanced mix of emotions, including negative ones like anger, in achieving the best outcomes. 

The functionalist theory of emotion, a concept studied for decades, suggests that emotions, whether positive or negative, are reactions to events within an individual’s environment and serve the purpose of alerting the person to important situations that require specific actions. Each emotion may trigger a different response; for instance, sadness may indicate a need for seeking help or emotional support, while anger may suggest the need to take action to overcome an obstacle. 

To gain a deeper understanding of the role of anger in achieving goals, researchers conducted a series of experiments involving over 1,000 participants and analyzed survey data from more than 1,400 respondents. In each experiment, participants were induced into experiencing various emotional states, including anger, amusement, desire, or sadness, or were kept in a neutral emotional state. They were then presented with challenging goals to accomplish. 

The study, titled “Anger has Benefits for Attaining Goals,” was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. In one experiment, participants were exposed to visuals designed to evoke specific emotions or neutral responses and were then tasked with solving a series of word puzzles. In another experiment, the goal was to achieve high scores in a skiing video game, with one game involving challenging play (avoiding flags on a slalom course) and another easier game featuring only a jump. 

The researchers also examined data from a series of surveys conducted during the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections. Participants were asked to rate how angry they would be if their preferred candidate did not win before the elections. After the elections, they reported whether they voted and for whom. The survey revealed that individuals who indicated they would be angry if their candidate lost were more likely to vote, but anger did not influence their choice of candidate. 

Heather Lench remarked, “These findings demonstrate that anger increases effort toward attaining a desired goal, frequently resulting in greater success.” The impact of anger in motivating people to pursue and frequently attain their goals was more pronounced in situations where the goals were particularly challenging. Anger did not appear to be associated with goal attainment when the goals were easier, such as in the ski-jump video game. 

This study suggests that emotions often labeled as negative, such as anger, boredom, or sadness, can be valuable tools. Lench emphasizes, “Our research adds to the growing evidence that a mix of positive and negative emotions promotes well-being, and that using negative emotions as tools can be particularly effective in some situations.” 

The research challenges the prevailing belief that happiness is the ultimate emotional state for personal well-being. It highlights the significance of a balanced emotional mix, where negative emotions like anger can serve as powerful motivators to help individuals overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Emotions, whether positive or negative, play a multifaceted role in guiding individuals to respond appropriately to life’s diverse circumstances. 

Journal Reference  

Heather Lench et al, Anger Has Benefits for Attaining Goals, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (2023). DOI: 10.1037/pspa0000350.