Are Anger Issues Genetic?

Anger can be a difficult emotion to work through for most people and can affect relationships along with feelings of self-worth and efficacy. Oftentimes, it is a secondary emotion and there are other emotions underneath the anger. But from where does anger originate?

Nature vs. Nurture

An age-old question is whether anger is more affected by nature or nurture. Nature is defined as our genetic makeup to include our DNA. Genes are passed down from generation to generation over hundreds and thousands of years. There is some evidence to support that there is a genetic component to frustration tolerance and anger responses.

Genetic findings for anger may include testosterone levels as well as an overactive sympathetic nervous system. Additionally, sometimes there is decreased activity in our frontal lobe, the area of our brain that impacts decision-making, planning, and judgment. The amygdala may also be over-responsive which is an old part of our brain that addresses rage and fear. Finally, in identical twin studies, when one twin is more prone to anger management issues, the other twin is as well, even when raised in very different homes.

Nurture alternatively addresses our learned behaviors. This includes behaviors we observe and imitate from our families, friends, and peers. For example, if we grow up in a home where one of our parents has anger management issues, we may learn to also over-respond to triggers that make us angry. In a classic case of “monkey see, monkey do,” nurture says that we do what we see.

In fact, it is Nature via Nurture

The reality is that nature and nurture act in concert like two hands clapping. Individually, they do not automatically make a sound or an impact, but when put together, they form the person we are to become. Instead of looking at the issue as nature vs. nurture, we now know that it is actually nature via nurture. Both our childhood, family experiences, peer groups, as well as our genetic makeup impact our ability to manage anger.

If anger is partly genetic, is it inevitable that I will have anger management issues if one of my parents did?

Even if there are anger issues in a family, that is no guarantee that someone will develop anger management issues. We are only beginning to crack the code of which genes affect which behaviors. We also know that many genes are not active or expressed, meaning that just like a light switch, they have never been “flipped on.”

Anger can feel like a very difficult issue to tackle but it is important to remember that feelings are never the problem. In fact, it is only our response (actions, behaviors, choices) to the feeling that can sometimes create issues in our lives and relationships.