• Question: why do we became angry?

    Asked by username1223 to Jemma, John, Lisa, Sam on 1 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Jemma Ransom

      Jemma Ransom answered on 1 Jun 2012:

      Hi @username1223, great question!

      As with all emotions, there will be a selection advantage for becoming angry. For instance ever seen animals in the wild fighting over a mate? This sort of anger ensures that you pass on your genes to the next generation at the expense of another animal. Obviously, anger isn’t quite so basic in humans, but I imagine that is where this emotion would have originated from.

      Jemma

    • Photo: Lisa Fitzgerald

      Lisa Fitzgerald answered on 1 Jun 2012:

      Hi @username1223,

      As Jemma says it is an emotion that encourages us to protect those we care about especially the young which will protect the next generation and hence the species as a whole. In humans, and likely other animals, it can get out of hand but it is an element of the need for survival.

      Thanks!

      Lisa

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