Situational and personal predictors of anger in a Lebanese sample -

Abstract

Anger, like all emotions, is of great importance in an individual’s daily life, and a main instigator of their actions. Anger is defined as a subjective state fueled by antagonistic thoughts, and can range from mild irritation to extreme fury. When taken to an extreme, anger can have serious repercussions on an individual’s personal and professional life as well as their health. It can also be considered one of the root causes of violent or aggressive behavior. Although no formal research investigates anger in Lebanon, anecdotal observations and media articles suggest Lebanese individuals have high anger and frustration in response to protracted civil strife, dysfunctional government systems, inadequate utilities, and chronic instability. One hundred and forty-one Lebanese individuals completed online questionnaires. The results revealed that daily hassles and system justification were significant predictors of general anger. Helplessness, daily hassles, and war exposure were significant predictors of anger-in. The predictors narcissism and gender were not significant predictors of anger or anger-in. The interpretations of the findings and the limitations were discussed.