How Anger Develops in Childhood, Carries into Adulthood, and Effects Relationships with Others.

Why does anger develop in people? And why does anger sometimes get expressed in negative ways, such as verbal, physical, or emotional abuse? This paper examines the different studies that have been done on why anger develops in children, individuals as they age, and how anger may develop within relationships. Strong evidence has shown that behavior can be learned, so when children grow up in a household of unhealthy conflict, they may then learn negative methods for expressing the emotion of anger themselves, such as hitting, kicking, biting, and yelling. The children may have come from a family where they were abused, thus they carryon the cycle of abuse as they get older. Conflict and abuse in the home are not the only reasons anger may develop in an individual. Studies show that if an individual felt rejected, shameful, or lonely growing up, they, too, may experience feelings of anger.

Jaci Hettig
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