When a person experiences a situation in which there are certain expectations of self and others that remain unmet, anger often occurs. Anger may be displaced onto an object resembling the original object of anger, or, often anger is displaced to an object that is less threatening than the original source of the anger. Any anxiety-producing situation has the potential for evoking anger and aggression. Often, people who live with a knowledge of their potential and do not behave in ways that will help them achieve it are frustrated and angry. The conflict between two values can be a source of anger.
Anger can be a vehicle to a new understanding and meaning.
As children, we learn from family and friends what are considered acceptable ways to express our anger. Many times there are powerful proscriptions about how and when we express anger, often learned from watching our parents express their anger. We carry these beliefs and perceptions into adulthood, and they can be very resistant to change. People express their anger in a variety of ways. Anger is often expressed in ways that are subtle and often not recognized as angry acts at the time.