Men are NOT Angrier than Women, but they do wear masks 

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

February 9, 2023 – Anger – it’s a universal human emotion and common to many living things but handled incorrectly it can have disastrous consequences, especially for men who are more likely to manage and express their anger in ways that are unhealthy.

Studies have proven men are NOT angrier than women by nature and are just as capable of rational thought and self-control. How they express their anger is the major problem). The UK’s National Mental Health Foundation, MHF, explains.

While often perceived as an extremely negative emotion, anger has evolved as an emotion to be a natural response to challenges or threats. There is nothing wrong with experiencing anger; it is part of being human. It can, however, be managed in both healthy and unhealthy ways

Anger is a secondary emotion the MHF says meaning it is often used to mask other feelings of inadequacy, sadness, depression etc. existing social norms surrounding men and how they are allowed to express emotion may cause men and boys to use anger to mask their emotion more frequently. Social expectations placed on boys of outward strength, rigidity etc can make them reluctant to express their struggles as well.

Men’s anger is more likely to come across as aggression and outward hostility. Women are more likely to turn anger inward, but they’re also more likely to talk through their anger Psych Central explains.

Poor socialization and parenting combined with poor anger management can lead to men hurting the people around them emotionally and physically, getting into fights and abusing domestic partners. This of course happens to women as well but data shows that men are more likely to get into fights and more likely to abuse intimate partners making it important to acknowledge the issue and create interventions that break the cycle.

So how can men learn how to manage and channel their anger positively?

For both men who are simply uncomfortable with their reactions when angry and men who have shown signs of being a danger to themselves and others when they get upset, anger management classes are a proven way to get them to assess their triggers and respond in healthy ways.

Therapy can also help with identifying causes of anger and any emotions men are using to mask. Family therapy can also help make loved ones more equipped to recognize and help men through their triggers.

Finally, the MHF says “it is also a good idea to find ways to channel this energy positively to ensure that it does not have a destructive impact on yourself or others, for instance, through increased aggression. Such productive ways of channeling anger could include taking part in high-intensity sports, such as swimming, martial arts or basketball, or engaging in the arts.”

Anger is normal, and with proper anger management men can express it in healthy ways that lower and eliminate instances of raging and hurting others or themselves.