Interesting study I came across regarding aggressive behavior and anger being correlated with a strong immune system. As you read this please keep in mind that correlation does not imply causation - it doesn't indicate that you have a strong immune system and that makes you aggressive or vice versa. It could be coincidental (although statistically thats unlikely) or there could be a third factor mediating the relationship between the two.

Douglas Granger and colleagues analyzed data on 4415 men, aged 30 to 48 years, who were part of a Vietnam Experience Study. The researchers evaluated the subjects' childhood and adulthood aggression levels, testosterone levels, and measures of immune system functioning.

The researchers found that aggressive behavior was significantly correlated with five of the seven immune markers they studied. The relationship was curvilinear, with the most dramatic difference seen between men with moderate levels of aggressive behavior and those with very little aggressive behavior. The researchers also note, "These relationships remained strong even after statistically controllin ng for age, body mass, testosterone, health risk behavior (eg., tobacco, alcohol, and drug use and sexual promiscuity), physical illness (e.g., colds, injuries, trauma, sexually transmitted diseases, and general health symptoms), and depression," as well as post traumatic stress syndrome.

The aggression-immunity association was strongest for numbers of CD4 cells and B lymphocytes, which, the researchers note, "determine [to a large extent] the initiation, magnitude, and duration of specific cellular immune responses." They found no evidence that the relationship between aggression and immune function was mediated d by differences in testosterone levels.

A positive association between aggression and immune system function makes sense, Granger and colleagues say, from an evolutionary perspective. "Aggressiveness is vital for gaining access to females and food, protecting young, battling predators, and fighting [other] species over resources and territory," they note, all activities which promote survival. Conversely, they say, aggressive behavior increases the likelihood of injury and exposure to disease. Thus, a combination of aggressive behavior and strong immune system function could have bee en highly advantageous to early humans.

Their findings in human subjects, the researchers say, are consistent with primate studies showing that highly aggressive monkeys have higher lymphocyte counts than less aggressive monkeys.

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"Human aggression and enumerative measures of immunity," Douglas A. Granger, Alan Booth, and David R. Johnson, Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol. of Biobehavioral Health, 315 Health and Human Development East, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802.

An excellent article (especially since it in the main agrees with my views) from Stephen Elliot at http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=17823


None of us is a stranger to anger. And while we may regret our anger at times, it can certainly be a warning that something is not right with our world. It can also be a useful power to right those wrongs if properly directed and controlled. Used appropriately and then dismissed, anger is healthy. But if allowed to control us and have its way, it can also damage us and those around us.

Throughout history anger and angry people have caused so much pain that today many believe that all anger is a mental defect to be rejected and avoided. Simply saying to someone, “You're angry!” is often used as a trump to end the discussion and win the argument—as if being angry is the ultimate evil in and of itself, and therefore overrides any subject being discussed.

And yet anger at genuine wrongs has led to much change for good. Repressions have been overturned as the result of “righteous anger.” Peoples have been freed, illegitimate regimes overthrown, women and children protected, and the situations of countless members of the human race improved.

But as we know, much of the world's misery can be traced to the unjust and unhealthy anger of individuals or groups—despots, megalomaniacs, politicians, false messiahs, competing religions and warring peoples on the macro scale; and the power-hungry, the dissatisfied, the controlling, the offended, the slighted and the ignored on the micro level.

We get the English word "berserk" from Norse raiders who were called berserkers in the Old Norse tongue, after their habit of losing their minds to murderous anger and blood lust.

Even in modern, and supposedly enlightened, times we have and do see horrific examples of leaders, peoples, cultures and religions promulgating unbridled anger to sacrifice hundreds of millions of individuals to their lusts for power: a force wielded against anyone who would stand in their way.

But, you and I don't have any such power or inclination. So why talk about something that doesn't affect us?

Since uncontrolled and unhealthy anger does cause terrible grief, it is important to understand how to express it properly and to take charge of our own anger so that we can use it as a catalyst for positive change.

It is easy to recognize extreme blood-in-the-eye rage when it shows itself in others, and perhaps we've even seen it in ourselves. But psychotherapists Ronald T. and Patricia S. Potter-Efron in Letting go of Anger (2006) list 11 common anger styles—some of them masked, some explosive, and some chronic. Some styles of anger are able to hide, even from the person exhibiting them. Some people claim that they never get angry, and indeed try not to do so. Others hide a sneaky, passive-aggressive anger by procrastination, forgetting or playing dumb or helpless. Some turn their anger inward and follow patterns that the Potter-Efrons describe as: self-neglect, self-sabotage, self-blame, self-attack, or self-destruction.

Men and women may express anger differently. In Western society women have been stereotyped historically as the nurturing sex and may therefore be discouraged from showing their anger, but both sexes have issues with this emotion. Although most books on anger management are written to men, Laura Petracek writes to women and says, “Most women in our society are either not in touch with their anger or feel their anger but don't know how to express it.” Petracek describes two styles of anger she sees in women: Anger In, in which “women direct their anger at themselves by overeating, becoming depressed, and hurting themselves;” and Anger Out, “venting your rage at another person, or attacking or blaming another person, possibly to the point of pushing, shoving, or kicking that person.”

All of us have the potential for anger as part of our humanity. Ignoring or denying anger prevents us from using it appropriately and allows it to cause us hurt.


APPROPRIATE ANGER—FOLLOWED BY RELEASE

Jesus of Nazareth is recorded as expressing anger toward the evil that exists on earth—so anger is not un-Christ-like. But the Sermon on the Mount warns against being angry without a cause. And at the end of His life, Jesus forgave His enemies—revealing a critical element for anger management and mental health (see “The Many Faces of Forgiveness”).

Other often overlooked passages give further insight into how to deal with anger appropriately. “You must not hate your fellow citizen in your heart. If your neighbor does something wrong, tell him about it, or you will be partly to blame” (Leviticus 19:17, New Century Version). So the idea is to face facts and deal with wrongs rather than let them cause resentment and depression or give the false impression of approval.

In another place the advice is, “When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day. Do not give the devil a way to defeat you” (Ephesians 4:26, 27, New Century Version). This adds that harboring anger and the attendant resentment can lead to severe personal problems.

The healthy way to preserve peace of mind is to deal with issues as they crop up, and then let them go and forgive what is past.

When our anger is triggered, we have decisions to make. Is this issue serious or just an aggravation? Was the offending action intentional or merely absentminded? Is it really worth getting angry about? King Solomon, whom the Bible calls the wisest man who ever lived, wrote “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11, English Standard Version).

Anger used correctly is a powerful tool to right wrongs and relieve oppression. Uncontrolled anger, however, is terribly destructive. Taking control of this trait with skill and character is a valuable lifelong pursuit.

STEPHEN ELLIOTT

Few events hit home for children and families like a school shooting.
When children see such an event on television or on Web-based news flashes, it is natural for them to worry about their own school and their own safety, particularly if the violence occurred nearby or in a neighboring city or state.

Talk to your children

Psychologists who work in the area of trauma and recovery advise parents to use the troubling news of school shootings as an opportunity to talk and listen to their children. It is important, say these psychologists, to be honest. Parents should acknowledge to children that bad things do happen, but also reassure them with the information that many people are working to keep them safe, including their parents, teachers, and local police.

Young children may communicate their fears through play or drawings.
Elementary school children will use a combination of play and talking to express themselves. Adolescents are more likely to have the skills to communicate their feelings and fears verbally. Adults should be attentive to a child's concerns, but also try to help the children put their fears into proportion to the real risk. Again, it is important to reassure children that the adults in their lives are doing everything they can to make their environment-school, home, and neighborhood-safe for them.

Parents, teachers, and school administrators also need to communicate with one another not only about how to keep kids safe, but about which children might need more reassurance and the best way to give it to them.

Limit exposure to news coverage

Parents should also monitor how much exposure a child has to news reports of traumatic events, including these recent school shootings.
Research has shown that some young children believe that the events are reoccurring each time they see a television replay of the news footage.

Know the warning signs

Most children are quite resilient and will return to their normal activities and personality relatively quickly, but parents should be alert to any signs of anxiety that might suggest that a child or teenager might need more assistance. Such indicators could be a change in the child's school performance, changes in relationships with peers and teachers, excessive worry, school refusal, sleeplessness, nightmares, headaches or stomachaches, or loss of interest in activities that the child used to enjoy. Also remember that every child will respond to trauma differently. Some will have no ill effects; others may suffer an immediate and acute effect. Still others may not show signs of stress until sometime after the event.

Wishing you a peaceful and anger free Sunday!

There is recent research that indicates that chronic anger may be more damaging to women than to men if it is suppressed. However, suppressed anger in men appears to affect their health as well. It appears that suppressed anger is not the major factor, but rather the lack of control over the situations that cause anger which determines the long-term health effects of anger.

Data from a long-term study in Michigan were analyzed to identify responses to authority figures who yelled at the person for something they had not done. Women (more than men) who suppressed their anger had a higher mortality rate over time. Women who suppressed their anger in confrontations with their spouses had twice the mortality risk as other women, even considering negative life-style factors (smoking, high blood pressure). In couples where both suppressed anger, mortality rates went up among women, but not men. Only when men had high blood pressure and suppressed anger did their rate of dying increase.

Another study indicated that women who vented their anger were more pessimistic, lacked social support, sensed limited control over their lives, and had greater health problems. So venting anger can cause problems as well. It appears that neither venting nor suppressing anger benefits women. The source of anger for both is the inability to deal effectively with the situations which bring about the anger.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Mattingly's son needs anger management

By Jorge Castillo

Inquirer Staff Writer

The son of former New York Yankees star first baseman Don Mattingly was arraigned yesterday in Evansville, Ind., on misdemeanor charges of shoving his mother and spitting in her face after she allegedly sent him an insulting text message.

The case against Taylor Mattingly, 24, was deferred so he can apply for a pretrial diversion program, said Angela Watson, director of the program for the Vanderburgh County prosecutor's office. Mattingly expressed interest in the program during his court appearance, in which he was not represented by an attorney, she said. He is scheduled to appear in court again Sept. 10.

Mattingly acknowledged confronting his mother, Kim, on Tuesday in her Evansville home after she had sent him a text message insulting him, his girlfriend and his father, Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Deputy Nathan Espenlaub said.

The deputy wrote in an affidavit that Mattingly acknowledged pushing his mother down and spitting on her. Mattingly, who surrendered to police that evening, also acknowledged smashing a patio table, flipping over a second table, and damaging a patio door and a window.

The affidavit says Taylor Mattingly, who was drafted by the Yankees in the 42d round in 2003 but no longer plays professionally, said that his mother had been drinking and that when she gets drunk she calls him and makes rude comments.

No phone listing for Taylor Mattingly could be found yesterday. A call to Kim Mattingly's house said the line was being checked for trouble. A message was left at the home of Don Mattingly, who is the batting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The couple filed for divorce in November 2007.

The affidavit said Kim Mattingly told police her son was upset because she had been unable to get an auto dealership to take his car in a trade for another model. She also had satellite TV service shut off at the nearby home where her son was staying.

I've always defined anger as a protective response to a perceived hurt or threat:

LONDON (Reuters) - British singer Amy Winehouse told a court on Thursday that she pushed a woman after a charity ball last September because she had been scared of her, but denied punching dancer Sherene Flash in the face. Flash has accused the 25-year-old star of punching her in the eye after she had asked the Grammy winner to pose for a photograph.

From The Bexley Times:

An Iraqi doctor who has been suspended for four years following a vicious road rage attack on a pregnant woman can return to work - despite ranting at the panel hearing her case.

Dr May Arnaot, 52, of Chandlers Drive, Erith, rammed nurse Sarah Chambers with her 4x4 at a petrol station in Erith, and a year earlier spat in a black rail worker's face, the General Medical Council has heard.

The Baghdad-born doctor had angrily interrupted GMC panel chairman Professor Kevin Dalton at her a fitness to practise hearing last week.

Despite her outburst, she can now return to work under supervision after the GMC ruled last Wednesday that this might be 'constructive'.

But Professor Dalton told her: "The panel is concerned that you have shown limited insight into the seriousness of your convictions and into your professional misconduct, and that issues relating to your anger management are still apparent."

On August 11, 2006, Arnaot pinned Ms Chambers, 25, against a no entry sign when asked for her insurance details following a road rage incident in Gravel Hill, Erith. Arnaot then yelled racist abuse at the nursery nurse, saying: "You're Tony Blair's b**ch, all you white people are the same - you all vote for Tony Blair."

Ms Chambers was hospitalised by the incident amid fears that she would miscarry but Dr Arnaot later received a suspended prison term. Ms Chambers later gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

In 2005, Dr Arnaot was given a suspended sentence for calling a rail worker a 'black b*****d' and spitting in his face. She told the hearing: "All convictions were related to issues of anger and being angry. These matters are entirely anger management matters or it was combined with gynaecology health issues which have now with time been surpassed."

Dr Arnaot claimed menopausal disorder was responsible for her rages and has said she will refuse to work with British patients when she returns to work. Conditions on the doctor's registration require her to continue attending anger management counselling.

Scott Adams is making my anger management blogging easy this week. Again, sorry for some reason blogger will not allow me to create a direct link, but go to www.Dilbert.com and look for the strip dated 7/22.

Check out the strip dated 7/21/09 at www.Dilbert.com.

I apologize for not having a clickable link available to you but for some reason that function does not seem work on Blogger.

Wishing you a peaceful and anger free Sunday!

This is my 72nd blog posting and already the second on anger and golf. I have a hunch that as time goes by there will be many others. From skynews.com

Paul Casey's driver bore the brunt of his frustration as the world number three had a second round to forget at the Open Championship.

Casey broke his one-wood in anger after a wayward drive on the eighth hole consigned him to a second double-bogey of his round at Turnberry.

He also missed an 18-inch putt on the fifth green during a second round 76 which left him four-over-par and in serious danger of missing the cut.

"It was certainly done out of frustration," admitted Europe's top-ranked player, who was left with only 13 clubs he could use for the rest of his round.

"It had been in the bag for four years - it's had a good innings - and I didn't need it any more."

Casey also called his three-putt bogey on the fourth "inexcusable", but thought the pin placing on the ninth, where he dropped yet another shot to turn in 41, was "ridiculous."

Elsewhere, Ian Poulter is out after a shocking second round 79 left him 14-over-par.

"If you're going to play as bad as I played for two days, it doesn't matter what golf course you're playing." He said.

"It could have been the easiest municipal down the road and I would have missed the cut. It was horrible."

From the Frankfort (KY) State-Journal:

When they walk into their classroom at Thorn Hill Learning Center, the kids in Mary West’s anti-aggression club drop to the floor and stretch their arms and legs.

They inhale deeply, then let out the breath with the loud “whoo” sound of a “wise, old owl.” The lights are already off, and thick curtains block most of the sunlight as the kids relax before starting their real work: dealing with their anger.

West, director of Summer Adventures in Learning at Thorn Hill, says the club is about helping kids make better choices. In its second year in Frankfort, it seeks to teach them empathy and teamwork, and build self-esteem.

“We have to take a really proactive approach to counterbalancing this,” West said as the club headed to lunch Tuesday.

“They’re the first to hit, but if they get hit, they’re the first to scream. They can only relate to ‘me,’ so we have to work on those skills.”

The club follows a curriculum designed by Louisville neurosurgeon Dr. Timir Banerjee, founder of the Society of the Prevention of Aggressiveness and Violence Among Adolescents.

SPAVA meets for the next two weeks in a cozy classroom at Thorn Hill, with worn-in couches, throw rugs and pillows.

Superheroes are painted on the walls, which are lined with lockers. The club will continue to meet in the fall as a weekly after-school program, West said.

Aaron Perkins, 8, known to the group as “Half Pipe” for his love of skateboarding, says he has trouble controlling his anger.

“When I get really angry, my hair turns red,” joked the redhead. “And it’s already red. See? It’s orange.”

Then he gets serious.

“For some reason, every single day sometimes, I have to sit in time out,” he said. “That’s really sad, because then I don’t get to play very much.”

Aaron says he’s trying to improve, and he says the club is helping.

He’s learned how to deal with frustration without threatening people, he says. Now he knows to tell a camp counselor if someone is bothering him, or if something isn’t fair.

“We learn how to get things without yelling or screaming,” he said. “They teach us all about stuff we need to learn about peace and feelings and all that.”

West contacted Banerjee a few years ago, after reading an article about the SPAVA program. The group’s founder trained West and six of her staff members in the concept, and it was implemented at Thorn Hill last year.

According to the SPAVA Web site, more than 2,200 students are enrolled in the program in the public and private schools in the Louisville area and Canada.

The curriculum teaches students communication skills, problem solving and cooperation. They learn how to read emotions and body language, and control their impulses.

They also learn about famous peacemakers: Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai.

Thorn Hill’s club is a little different than other places, West says. Students here are chosen to participate because they need it, while some schools offer SPAVA to all of the students in a class.

“We hand pick these kids that need it the most,” she said. “Keeping those folks on task is a bit more challenging, but they can learn from each other.”

West added yoga and tai chi relaxation methods to the class - they aren’t part of the original curriculum.

“These kids are under a lot of stress, whether it’s divorce, or some of them being raised by grandparents,” she said.
“Some of them have parents in prison - there are some real good reasons why these kids are having trouble to begin with.”

West has also given her club a Native American theme. The 13 boys and one girl operate as “the tribe,” and they choose Native American names inspired by their best qualities.

A fast runner goes by “Fleet Footed,” and an avid artist calls herself “Princess Color-A-Lot.”

They use a talking stick - a plain, wooden ruler that must be in the speaker’s hands. Each day, the kids choose a new rule to govern the tribe.

They came up with “no mean words” on Monday, listing the forbidden ones on the chalkboard: shut up, dumb and stupid.

On Tuesday they added the tried and true golden rule, promising to “make each other feel like they want to feel.” It encompassed all the other rules they wanted to enact, like no fighting, pinching, kicking, biting or stealing.

Hunter May, 9, says he has fun at SPAVA. This is his second year with the program.

“It helps you deal with your anger,” he said.

He goes by the name “Brother Guide” because his younger brother is also in the club. On Tuesday, he drew a picture of himself on a large sheet of paper.

“How do you make a peace sign?” he asks, then copies the example.

West says it could take several summers of SPAVA before the light goes off for kids.

Many are too young to understand all of the lessons, she says. And boys are at a disadvantage when it comes to learning about emotion; they recognize, on average, seven facial expressions, compared to 35 for girls.

“The first thing they want to do when they experience pain is inflict pain on others,” she said. “Just getting them the skills they need to take a deep breath and evaluate the situation before they start pummeling someone.”

Today they will play capture the flag to learn diplomacy and teamwork. They’ll perform skits to learn how to deal with real problems, which West says could grow into a full-fledged play.

The bubble game is Aaron’s favorite.

Kids float around the room like bubbles to learn about personal space. If two bubbles touch, they “pop” and must sit out. West encourages the kids to “stay in their bubbles” as they head to lunch an hour later.

“We like to do the bubble game. It’s fun,” Aaron said. “That last time, I got out, but I was so close. There were only like five more people to beat.”

Aaron colored a picture of his Native American name and two big peace signs on Tuesday. He dug through a plastic tub filled with dozens of crayons.

“Ooh, violet!” he says, pulling a purple crayon from the box. “That’s a good color for peace. It’s really dark, and people like purple.”

But even with the talking stick, the deep breathing and the SPAVA curriculum, fights and frustration still break out.

One student gets angry during a group activity, and he shakes his fists and screams into a pillow. Later the inevitable happens, when three kids want to use the same yellow marker.

When two boys fight over a book about pirates, the kids freeze to solve the problem as a tribe.

West tells the class that one boy grabbed the book and yelled when he wanted it back.

“That’s the old way and boring way of doing things,” she tells them.

The tribe decides to treat each other like brothers, or even better - family members sometimes fight, they admit.

“We need to be angels and just live in peace,” says a young counselor in training assigned to the class.

A little while later, the tribe stands up to play a game.

“Can we whack people?” one boy asks with a smile on his face, brandishing a couch cushion.

“No,” replies a camp counselor. “That’s not the golden rule.”

From

CrimeTimes.org

Abusive men: does high testosterone contribute?

A new study by Florida re-searchers suggests that elevated testosterone levels may play a role in domestic violence.

H. Soler and colleagues studied 54 men from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Each of the men had one primary female partner.

"A high percentage of participants reported some level of both verbal and physical aggression toward their partners," Soler et al. say. "Testosterone levels were significantly associated with levels of both verbal aggression and physical violence self-reported by the men." Overall, they say, testosterone levels, alcohol consump ption, and demographic characteristics were significant in predicting levels of abusive behavior.

The researchers conclude, "The high heritability of testosterone level and its association with violent behavior warrant the inclusion of this variable in studies of antisocial and criminal behavior including domestic violence."

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"Biosocial aspects of domestic violence," H. Soler, P. Vinayak, and D. Quadagno, Psychoneuroendocrinology, Vol. 25, No. 7, October 2000, pp. 721-739. Address: H. Soler, Department of Sociology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2270.

From The Associated Press:

Porn-blaring man to take anger management classes

3 days ago

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A suburban Philadelphia man has agreed to take anger management classes for blaring a pornographic soundtrack to chase away kids playing outside his home. Michael Buck was arrested May 31 at his upscale Phoenixville cul-de-sac after irate neighbors told police they could hear the sexually explicit audio a block-and-a-half away.

The 27-year-old man will also perform 20 hours of community service under terms of a 90-day agreement reached in court Thursday.

If Buck complies with the terms, he'll return to court in October and plead guilty to a noise violation charge. He had faced more serious charges of corruption of minors and disorderly conduct.

Neighbors at the hearing said they're satisfied with the agreement.

The Crime Times summarizes an recent study which shows one of the ways what I call thinking brain (which they refer to as "executive function")plays an important role in anger management:

A new large-scale study suggests that aggressive boys are handicapped by poor "executive functions"-that is, they show impairment in brain functions including planning, abstract reasoning, problem solving, attention, concentration, and controlling short-term behavior to achieve long-term goals.

Jean R. S,guin et al. followed 177 boys from age 6 to age 12. The subjects were then divided into three groups: "stable aggressive," "unstable aggressive" (those not as consistently aggressive as the first group), and nonaggressive. The researchers administered tests to the boys at adolescence, and found that "tests of executive functions had the strongest association with physical aggressive behavior, over and above tests of verbal learning, cerebral dominance, and incidental spatial learning." Even when social factors were controlled for, the researchers say, aggressive boys exhibited difficulties in executive functions. Unstable aggressive boys also showed impairments.

The researchers note that deficits in executive functions have been linked to hyperactivity, which in turn is associated with aggressive behavior. In addition, such deficits have been reported in alcoholic men's sons, a group with an increased risk of hyperactivity and conduct disorder. Executive functions appear to be performed by the frontal lobes of the brain, and several studies strongly link criminal behavior to frontal lobe defects (See Crime Times, Vol. 1, No. 1/2, Page 1 and Crime Times, Vol. 1, No. 4, Page 6).

"Although early clear-cut frontal damage leads to comportmental difficulties in childhood and adulthood," S,guin et al. say, "the present impairments in executive functions may be undetectable neuroanatomically and may be solely at a neurochemical or physiological level."

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"Cognitive and neuropsychological characteristics of physically aggressive boys," Jean R. S,guin, Robert O. Pihl, Philip W. Harden, Richard E. Tremblay, and Bernard Boulerice, Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Vol. 104, No. 4, 1995, pp. 614-624. Address: Robert O. Pihl, Psychology Department, McGill University, 1205 Docteur Penfield, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B1.

Wishing you an peaceful, anger free Sunday.

Molly Crockett and colleagues explored the connection between serotonin and socially aggressive behavior. The researchers asked 20 young adults to fast overnight and then gave them drinks containing tryptophan (a building block of serotonin) on the first day of testing. On the second day of testing the volunteers received drinks without tryptophan, causing their serotonin levels to fall.

On both days the volunteers played an “ultimatum game” in which one player suggests a way to split a pot of money with another player. If the second player accepts the offer, both players receive a payout; however, if the second player refuses the offer, neither person receives money. In some cases the first player offered a fair settlement (for example, dividing the money in half), while other times the first player offered an unfair split.

The researchers found that players with normal serotonin levels rejected only 67 percent of unfair offers, while those with reduced serotonin rejected 82 percent. These results, the researchers suggest, indicate that serotonin helps keep aggressive social responses—in this case, refusing a deal even if both players lose money—in check.

“When we feel something is unfair,” study coauthor Matthew Lieberman comments, “that may have to do with how our brain causes us to experience the world.”

From “Serotonin modulates behavioral reactions to unfairness,” M. J. Crockett, L. Clark, G. Tabibnia, M. D. Lieberman, and T. W. Robbins, Science, June 5, 2008 (epub prior to print publication). Address: Molly Crockett, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK, mc536@cam.ac.uk.

From The Crime Times

COPPER, ZINC LEVELS LINKED TO AGGRESSION

For 20 years, William J. Walsh and colleagues have studied the biological differences between criminals and non-criminals. One consistent finding, they say, is that individuals prone to violence have abnormal trace metal concentrations, and in particular elevated serum copper and depressed plasma zinc (see related article, Crime Times, 1996, Vol. 2, No. 3, Page 6).

Recently, Walsh et al. studied 135 assaultive males between the ages of 3 and 20, and 18 controls with no history of assaultive behavior. Blood samples from each group were analyzed for serum copper and plasma zinc concentrations.

The researchers found that "the median copper/zinc ratio for the assaultive subjects was 1.40 compared to 1.02 for controls, a statistically significant difference." Furthermore, they note, "Copper/zinc ratio [was] highest in subjects with a history of aggravated assaults followed, in descending order, by subjects who exhibited destructive rages, physical assaults, verbal assaults and normal behavior."

Walsh et al. say their findings strongly suggest a correlation between abnormal body chemistry and violence, and note that four studies have reported significantly improved behavior in subjects when copper/zinc ratios and other biochemical factors were normalized.

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"Elevated blood copper/zinc ratios in assaultive young males," William J. Walsh, H. Ronald Isaacson, Fatima Rehman, and Anmarie Hall, Physiology and Behavior, Vol. 62, No. 2, August 1997, pp. 327-329. Address: H. Ronald Isaacson, Health Research Institute, 1804 Centre Point Drive, Suite 102, Naperville, IL 60563.

From Danielle Hier in the Philadelphia Examiner:

I have seen anger so explosive that the person began throwing things, and yelling in a fit of rage. I have witnessed anger so withdrawn, that the person hid under the covers all day, crying. I have experienced that angry being who always seemed to be sick, and it was because of something the world had done to them, or the one who was burnt out, and just plain tired.

Sadly, in at least one time in my life, I have been all of these people, and I would venture a guess that many of you out there would say the same thing.

In yoga discussion groups, often a student or teacher will say, "I know I shouldn't feel this way but --" and the "but" was followed by some "un-yoga-like" expression of anger.

Anger is a valid emotion, and to deny it, would be to deny being human. What makes it "yoga-like" or "un-yoga-like" is in how we process anger.

Do we manage it, or does it control us? Can we express it in a healthy way without becoming overly confrontational, or sinking into a state of depression? Can we own that emotion and then let it go, instead of holding onto it for years at a time in an unforgiving manner? And, can we come to understand why we become so angry, and learn to manage those triggers that send us to that state to begin with?

From a yoga standpoint, in a Hatha practice, students will often very clearly demonstrate that anger through their movements. For the person in a fit of rage, he or she may move rapidly through poses, and become agitated by meditation. Conversely, the withdrawn man or woman may arrive sluggish (if they opt to come to class at all), and seem overwhelmed at holding any challenging pose for more than a few seconds.

One way in which you might physically help to balance anger, is to tailor your practice to the expression of that emotion.

If you are temperamental, begin with rapid-flowing Sun Salutations, and gradually, begin to slow the transitions between one asana and the next, as your breath and heart rate begin to slow down. Cool down with simple seated stretches, and end with deep breathing exercises, and relaxation.

If you are withdrawn, do the opposite. Begin with relaxation and breath work, followed by light seated poses, and work your way through some standing poses that require you to build your energy. While most traditional practices end in Savasana, this is one time where you might opt to end by standing for several minutes in Mountain Pose.

From Bob Ford's column in the Philadelphia Inquirer:

As Lance Armstrong was climbing steadily to the summit of professional cycling's holiest of Ziggurats - reeling off two, three, four, five, six, SEVEN straight wins in the Tour de France during his remarkable comeback from the cancer that nearly killed him - followers, fanatics and doubters struggled to find an apt historical comparison within the sport.

The handiest and most recent was that of Miguel Indurain, the impassive Spaniard whose five Tour wins, the previous record held by Indurain and three others, were also consecutive. While the domination was similar, the riders were not.

Big Mig ground up the mountains with a massive engine and blew away the fields in time trials, but it was a day's work and nothing personal. When he tired of the thing, he smiled and walked away.

Armstrong always rode angry. He was angry at the French team that cut him when he contracted cancer, angry at those who always believed that he was a doper, angry at the competitors who dared to challenge him, angry at the Tour organizers who designed the route to beat him (or so he convinced himself), angry, angry, angry. He stoked that anger into a white-hot competitiveness that seared the field seven straight times.

The better comparison for the style of Armstrong - and a fascinating one this year as Armstrong comes back to attempt an eighth Tour win starting tomorrow - is with Bernard "The Badger" Hinault, a winner of five and the last Frenchman to take the honor.

"I race to win, not to please people," Hinault said famously, and Armstrong would salute that flag.

Hinault's last win came in 1985, when he was helped to the top step of the podium by young American teammate Greg LeMond. The following year, the 31-year-old Hinault pledged to return the favor and ride in support of LeMond.

It didn't work out that way, however; at least in the view of LeMond, who believed that his teammate betrayed him and tried to break him. LeMond still won the race, with Hinault finishing second, three minutes behind. Hinault always maintained he was working to destroy the rest of the field, not LeMond. Whatever, but the two men are not friends to this day.

The circumstances aren't exactly the same, but the dynamics are very similar on Armstrong's Astana team this year. Theoretically, the team, including Armstrong, will ride in support of Alberto Contador, who, at 26, has become just the fifth rider in history to win all three of cycling's grand tours.

Somewhere between tomorrow's Stage 1 time trial and the Stage 20 summit of legendary Mont Ventoux, the wind-blasted, limestone blister that rises from the fields of Provence, it will become clear which rider is the strongest and who is riding for whom.

That's really the only question. The Astana team assembled by team director Johan Bruyneel, who guided Armstrong's wins with U.S. Postal and Discovery (as well as Contador's with Discovery), could be the equal of his earlier powerhouses.

"I cannot see who can beat Team Astana in the Tour de France this year," said former rider Paul Sherwen, who once again will handle the commentary on Versus along with Phil Liggett. "I think it's an interesting role for Johan, a role he's never actually had before, with [multiple] serious contenders to win the race."

Aside from Armstrong and Contador, the team has U.S. rider Levi Leipheimer and German veteran Andreas Kloden, along with former Discovery teammate Yaroslav Popovych. Those five riders have 16 podium finishes in the grand tours among them.

Contador wasn't all that happy when Armstrong announced his comeback in September and joined Bruyneel with Astana. The team director assured Contador he was still the team leader, but everyone knows the title is only as good as the previous stage.

"I think we will rally around the strongest rider," Leipheimer said. "Whoever that is will have the full support of the team. I think we have a strong enough team to support multiple leaders."

The Tour has drifted along a bit since Armstrong's retirement after his 2005 win. Oscar Pereiro became the default winner in 2006 when Floyd Landis tested positive for testosterone and was stripped of the yellow jersey. Contador won in 2007, but only after race leader Michael Rasmussen was fired by his team with four stages to go for suspicion of doping. Last year, the race was won by Carlos Sastre of Spain, who took only one chance in three weeks, albeit on the punishing switchbacks of Alpe d'Huez, and simply outlasted a field diluted by the absence of Astana - which was not invited because of past problems - and the absence, usually through their own fault, of many other top riders.

The thrill returns this time, however, largely because the presence of Armstrong will cast a glaring spotlight on the proceedings, probably enough to melt away challenges from other overall contenders such as Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank), Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto), Denis Menchov (Rabobank), and Sastre (Cervelo).

In all probability, the strongest challenge for the right to lead the winning team down the Champs-Elysees will come from within the ranks of Astana.

Unlike Hinault in 1986, Armstrong has pledged only to ride as well as he can and do what is best for the team. If Contador proves himself the better rider, there is little doubt Armstrong will become a gracious teammate.

But there is also little doubt that Armstrong will make Contador prove it.

Therein lies the drama in a wonderful event that has been slightly lacking in drama for, oh, about four years. It marks the theatrical return of another man who races to win, not to please.

Open the starter's ramp in Monaco, if you will. Let them begin. This one should be very interesting.

Wishing you a peaceful, anger-free Sunday!

This from WiseGeek.com

Roid rage is a term given to people who act in very aggressive or hostile manner after taking large doses, usually on a regular basis, of anabolic steroids, sometimes nicknamed as roids. In recent times, several prominent murders and brutal attacks have been linked to roid rage, which might suggest a person is less responsible for committing a crime. This is not always an adequate defense given that people who take anabolic steroids tend to do so willingly. Further, roid rage resulting in violent behavior may be a little more complex than it is generally portrayed in the media.

When people use anabolic steroids, a dangerous practice for many reasons, they are essentially placing extra levels of testosterone in their bodies. This hormone can at first have positive effects on the psyche, which later turn negative. Steroid users at first may acquaint steroid use with feeling well, unconquerable or very happy. Continued use of steroids may result in much greater mood and behavior change. People may become more aggressive, more hostile, or they may manifest symptoms of various forms of mental illness, like schizophrenia, mania, and deep depression. Anabolic steroid use is linked not only to roid rage and sudden mood changes, but also to a higher incidence of suicide than in the general populace.

There have been several clinical studies assessing roid rage, and it does turn out that people who are most likely to experience it are also most likely, prior to steroid use, to be extremely angry, hostile or violent. This suggests that roid rage may most occur in those who are already at risk for violent behavior. These studies further suggest that roid rage is not a suitable legal defense for committing violent acts, since the person who claims it as a defense may have already had tendencies toward violence. These tendencies or violent acts can further be a side effect of ending steroid use, since the mood elevation properties of steroids when suddenly cut off could result in acting in a violent manner. Long-term users of steroids should be carefully watched and helped medically to recover from what might be termed steroid addiction.

Despite clinical studies, any steroid user is risking the potentially dangerous effects of extreme behavior changes when taking steroids. Some people may be so vulnerable that behavior changes occur rapidly, causing the person to behave in a manner illegal or so disruptive that it can quickly ruin a life. What is clear is that anabolic steroid use is a dangerous practice with many potential long-term side effects that can be life changing. Like many other drugs, anabolic steroids are dangerous indeed, and the potential for roid rage adds the additional risk of a person hurting himself or others by extremely violent behavior while on steroids.

This from Lancaster Online.com:

t was a hoagie that caused the woman to "flip out" last week at a Manheim Township pizza place.

"She said that the meat and the cheese were touching," says an employee of J&R Pizza, 852 Plaza Blvd.

The shop tried to fix the problem, but then the woman's friend said she had no money to pay for the hoagie.

"The economy ain't the greatest," says the employee, who declined to give his name.

The woman began screaming and cursing, says the employee. Police ended up charging her with disorderly conduct.

People are feeling more angry these days, according to two recent polls. And they are acting out in their homes, on local roads and in other places, local officials say.

An American Psychological Association poll last year showed that 60 percent of people reported feeling angry or irritable, which was up from 50 percent in 2007.

Of those feeling stressed, eight out of 10 said the economy was a significant factor, according to the APA poll.

A USA Today/Gallup poll found 53 percent of Americans describing themselves as angry about the country's financial problems.

Dean Clemmer sees the anger coming through his door at the Samaritan Counseling Center, where he is a therapist.

"There is just a real frustration at people losing their jobs. People are feeling a lack of control over a larger economic situation. With a loss of control, one response is anger," he says.

Police are noticing the phenomenon, too.

The failing economy is behind some domestic problems erupting in New Holland, says Chief John Yost.

"You would read in a report where an officer says, 'What's going on?' and they would say, 'I just lost my job and am having a hard time paying the bills. I just lost it.'

"The disturbances, there is screaming and hollering — they're angry."

Magisterial District Judge Cheryl Hartman has noticed it in her city office as well.

"I just signed three more complaints for simple assaults, a guy beating up a woman," she says. "Those cases are coming. I think we're going to have more of that. When you can't pay the bills and people are knocking on your door, that leads to violence.

"I see anger brought on by what's going on today."

Ken Ruffner, a therapist with Life Management Associates in Lancaster, says the economy is a major cause of our recent anger, but so are other modern-day stresses.

"I think with the advances in technology, the way things have sped up so much, there is increased frustration," he says.

We are supposed to feel more in control, but we feel less in control.

When people lose their jobs, it makes them fearful about how they are going to pay for housing, food, clothing and other essentials. It's a threat, and anger is a "hardwired," biological response to a threat, Clemmer says.

Feeling pushed into problems they did not create, some people simply lash out.

"Road rage is a good example of this," he says.

In East Hempfield Township, Sgt. Mark Earhart says he's noticed that road rage has escalated in the past six months.

"Rather than just passing someone, getting upset and driving away, people are pursuing it" to the point where they have face-to-face confrontations, he said. "In the last six months, it's gone further than normal."

Other people repress their anger or turn it inward, becoming depressed or withdrawn, Clemmer says.

People can't control the fact that they feel angry, but they can control how they express it, Clemmer says.

Here are some tips on how to control your anger from Clemmer and Ruffner:

• When you feel yourself growing angry, take a timeout. Remove yourself from the situation.

• Work it out. Take a vigorous walk, jog or go to the health club.