Cognitive Therapy for Rage?
On the first page of “Anger: How to Live With and Without It.” Albert Ellis writes, “Most psychologists agree that you absolutely must feel anger. They see the newborn infant as expressing emotions comparable to anger and rage in the first hours of life.”
Then on the first page of chapter 12 Ellis writes,
The rational approach to anger involves a hardheaded, persistent, relentless effort to admit that you do feel enraged rather than merely annoyed; that you largely (though not exclusively) brought on these feelings yourself and have the responsibility for giving them up; that you can distinctly control and reduce them, although probably never to absolute zero, that they mainly bring you and your associates considerably more harm than good; and that it would seem advisable, though hardly necessary, for you to ameliorate and often eliminate these angry feelings.
I read this book cover to cover, forward and backward, underlining, highlighting, and taking notes. I listened to his recorded lecture tapes as well. REBT did not ameliorate my anger, no less rage.
Anger vs RAGE
Anger vs RAGE
But I have read most of his books and interviewed Albert Ellis. Anger: How to Live With and Without It” was published in 1977 before Jaak Panksepp carried out his rat lab experiments on the seven primary affects.
Seven Primary Affect Systems
- SEEKING or expectancy
- RAGE
- FEAR
- LUST
- CARING
- PANIC/GRIEF
- PLAY
These seven basic emotional systems are the results of years of data-based lab research of functions of deep-brain neural systems. Panksepp summarized this research in “The Archaeology of Mind: Neuroevolutionary Origins of Human Emotions.”
Ellis was a brilliant man and an innovative psychologist who kept up with the times. He would have surely addressed the issue of RAGE. But he is no longer here to make adjustments with knowledge of the current research. And books have a way of cementing an author’s words in stone.
It is possible to ameliorate anger with REBT. Anger is a tertiary cognitive brain process. But REBT is ineffective with RAGE. RAGE is a subcortical process. RAGE does not target an individual to reach out and strike. Anger or hatred targets objects or individuals. RAGE is an ancestral primary-process that does not need an intentional object of hatred. RAGE is “uncognated” passion bubbling up from deep in the brain.
The RAGE system runs from the amygdala to the hypothalamus and then to the periaquaductal gray (PAG). In all animals that Pankseep tested, RAGE can be evoked by electrically stimulating these brain regions. When the current is turned on the animals attack, usually biting objects that are in front of them. The attack becomes more intense when the current levels are increased. If these brain-stimulation procedures are carried out in humans, people tend to clence their jaws and to report feelings of intense objectless anger.
Given the inevigable vicissitudes of even the happiest lives, it is easy to see why some moment of RAGEful arousal are inevitable features of every life. Nobody, however good-tempered he or she may be, is immune to this affective experience. It is part of our ancestr heritage. Jaak Pankseep
RAGE Affect Brain Location Map
RAGE is often a part of PTSD and had best be managed with medication. Prozac, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is effective for me.
I manage anger with Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) and some of the attention therapies such as Ki Breathing Meditation, Open Focus, Insight Meditation, Metacognitive Therapy (MCT), and Bibliotherapy. These therapies will be infective, though, unless they are well understood and practiced on a regular basis so that they become tools you call upon on demand.
Self-help books that help:
Total Self-Renewal through Attention Therapies and Open Focus
The Open-Focus Brain: Harnessing the Power of Attention to Heal Mind and Body
