How Anger Passes Through Generations

Though anger might seem like a simple emotion based on irritation, hostility, or annoyance, it’s much more complex. In fact, the concept of anger and anger expression is best explained as a complex emotional experience. That is, anger typically has roots in more than irritation or the like; instead, anger is often expressed when someone is frustrated, sad, or fearful.^[1]

Moreover, research suggests that environmental factors in youth heavily influence anger expression in adulthood.^[2] Other research suggests that genetics plays a part in people’s anger experiences, too, and that those factors carry across generations.^[6]

Is Anger Genetic?

The short answer to the question, “Are anger issues genetic?” is they can be. Genes play a part in the anger experience, anger regulation, and the expression of anger. In fact, some studies show that roughly half the variance of anger expression is determined by genes.^[4]

Furthermore, researchers suggest this genetic risk is attributable to several factors. First, studies indicate that people with a low-MAOA genotype might be more susceptible to greater levels of anger. Second, people with this type of genotype show increased activity in the posterior thalamic and left amygdala regions during periods of anger reactivity. Third, this type of genotype is associated with generally aggressive behavior.^[5]

Twin studies support the notion that anger issues can be genetic. For example, studies of negative emotionality (e.g., a predisposition for anger) show that if one member of an identical twin pair experiences heightened anger, the other is also more likely to experience heightened anger than in non-identical twin pairs.^[3]

Researchers believe several genes are involved in anger. The MAOA, DRD4, COMT, and AVPR1A have most frequently been the subject of studies on this topic. However, much of the research on this topic is limited in scope, and findings regarding the gene-environment and gene-gene interactions have been inconclusive.^[6]

Having said that, many mental health issues (e.g., bipolar disorder and depression) which can have anger components may have genetic factors. So, if you have a family history of either disorder, the chances are greater that you will have the disorder at some point in your life.^[7]

What is certain, though, is this: Can anger issues be genetic? Yes. But are anger issues solely influenced by genes? No. Like any other behavior, the experience of anger is influenced by multiple factors.

Nature vs. Nurture: The Role of the Environment in Causing Anger

Though nature is certainly involved in anger, the environment is equally important. Research shows that unique environmental factors such as substance-related disorders, unpleasant childhood experiences, and even the availability of green space in a youth’s neighborhood can strongly influence the anger experience and the expression of anger later in life.^[2][7]

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Many environmental factors can make it more likely someone experiences anger more frequently. Some common factors include the following:^[8]

• Abuse or neglect in the home
• Aggressive behavior in the home
• Violence or aggression in social groups or the community at large
• Home instability due to relationship issues
• Financial instability

Furthermore, overcrowding, food or water shortages, and pollution are all attributable to increased anger. Even cultural norms play into this: some cultures are far more expressive of anger than others. Beyond that, children whose parents have a harsh parenting style are more likely to exhibit anger and aggression than children whose parents have a supportive parenting style.^[9]

These and other environmental factors don’t operate in a vacuum, though. Instead, genetics and environment work together to affect each person’s ability to manage and express anger. For example, suppose you have a history of alcohol abuse in your family. This, combined with frequent experiences with an aggressive parent, may combine to make you more likely to have explosive anger outbursts.

Now, suppose you have a history of alcohol abuse in your family but that your parents made purposeful choices about your upbringing (e.g., elimination of alcohol in the home) that also minimized or eliminated your experience with aggressive or angry behaviors. As a result of this environmental change, you may be less likely to exhibit excessive anger.

These are simple examples, but they illustrate that genetics and environment are at play regarding anger. This doesn’t mean, though, that if you have a genetic predisposition for anger, you will have an unhealthy relationship with anger. Nor does it mean that if you grow up in a supportive, calm environment, you won’t have anger problems. How you experience anger depends on your specific situation and the interplay of many, many different factors.

Family Patterns of Anger

Now that we know there are likely genetic and environmental components of anger, the next question is this: Does anger run in families? Clearly, if genetics is involved, anger issues can run in families if certain genes are passed from one generation to the next. This is especially true if there are mental illness issues in the family, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or dementia, each of which can include anger, irritability, and similar features. However, as far as family patterns of anger go, it is mostly a learned behavior.

For example, as children, we learn how to experience and express anger from our caretakers. Therefore, if parents express anger through yelling and violence, you’re likely to do the same. In contrast, if parents express anger calmly and rationally and explain the underlying feelings or events that caused the anger, you’re more likely to do so as well.

In other words, the critical developmental period of childhood and adolescence heavily influences how you experience and express anger. As a child, you’ll observe the behavior of the adults around you and imitate that behavior—good, bad, or otherwise. That’s why modeling appropriate behavior, ensuring positive family dynamics, helping children learn how to regulate their emotions, and utilizing appropriate parenting styles are so important for ensuring anger isn’t passed from one generation to the next.^[10]

The Impact of Generational Trauma on Anger

There is another component to the question of whether or not anger runs in families: generational trauma. Generational trauma comes in many forms, such as physical violence, neglect, or abuse. Furthermore, witnessing violence, losing a loved one to suicide, and sexual assault in childhood can trigger trauma that lasts for generations. In fact, in most cases, children who have experiences like those listed above have parents who also had those experiences.^[11]

This goes back to the previous discussion of learned behavior. If a parent or another caretaker has unresolved trauma, they may frequently express anger over that trauma, which is a completely normal response. The difficulty is that, as discussed a moment ago, children observe these behaviors and might adopt them as their own. Thus, the vicious cycle begins, and one generational trauma fuels anger for generations thereafter.

There’s another component to this as well. Some researchers postulate that severe trauma early in childhood—such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse—greatly increases the risk of psychopathology as an adult. So, not only might the generational trauma experience be passed down from one generation to the next, but the likelihood that the parent has a serious mental illness is a concern. This double whammy of trauma and mental illness can make childhood a tumultuous experience, to say the least.^[12]

Breaking the Cycle: How to Manage Inherited Anger

The good news is that inherited anger doesn’t have to be a lifelong experience. Despite genetic predispositions, environmental influences, and generational trauma, people can relearn their anger experience.

For example, integrative care is one technique used to break the cycle of anger. This might involve psychologists, medical doctors, addiction specialists, and other professionals, each of whom contributes to the overall care of the patient. This community of support helps address the myriad issues involved, from helping adjust communication styles to treating mental illness in psychotherapy to using drug treatments to address any underlying physiological or psychological issues that might be contributing to the anger issues.^[11]

Not everyone needs an integrated, multi-faceted approach to working through anger, though. Therapy on its own is an excellent option for many people with anger issues. In particular, cognitive-behavioral therapy is helpful in identifying negative thought patterns, changing maladaptive beliefs, and adopting effective coping methods for dealing with anger appropriately.^[13]

Furthermore, psychodynamic therapy, which focuses on the use of self-reflection and the psychological roots of anger, has shown promise as a treatment option for anger. Family therapy, too, might be effective. In family therapy, family members work to resolve issues ranging from communication to conflict management to address anger problems within the family unit.^[13]

Again, not everyone needs therapeutic treatment to work through their anger issues. In fact, many self-help techniques are highly effective for addressing anger issues:^[14]

• Structured breathing, such as taking several deep breaths in sequence, ensures that the breaths come from your diaphragm rather than your chest.
• Counting to ten can help you refocus your attention when anger strikes and allow you to calm yourself without an angry outburst.
• Practice meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques to help clear your mind and focus your energy on something other than your anger.
• Use humor to diffuse situations in which you feel yourself becoming angry.
• Leave the area you’re in and seek a calming place. For example, you might feel angry at work, so stepping outside for a moment to collect your thoughts might help prevent an angry outburst.
• Exercise is a great way to alleviate stress and feelings of anger.

Additionally, it’s helpful to practice self-reflection and identify your anger triggers. What makes you angry, and why? Understanding what makes you angry enables you to better deal with anger that arises from those triggers. Furthermore, tune into the warning signs that you’re getting angry. This might be anything from an increased heartbeat to clenched fists to repetitive thoughts about something that irritated, annoyed, or angered you. By being proactive on these fronts, you can make significant headway in how you experience and express anger.