The Physical and Mental Costs of Anger

We already know that anger has negative physical effects. Hostility, for example, is a well-established risk factor for heart disease, particularly in men. But what about its effects on our minds? Specifically, what does anger do to our memory, judgment, and ability to discern truth?

Anger, as an emotion, is characterized by negativity and heightened arousal, which can impair our ability to think clearly. When we’re angry, our attention becomes narrowly focused, often reinforcing stereotypes or preconceived ideas. Anger doesn’t just cloud our judgment—it makes us more vulnerable to misinformation.

The Anger-Misinformation Connection

This is a critical point, especially in today’s polarized political climate and during moments of public health crisis, where emotions run high and misinformation is rampant. Anger tends to narrow our cognitive focus, making it easier for false claims to slip through the cracks. When we’re angry, we’re less likely to question or fact-check the information we encounter. In fact, anger increases our susceptibility to believing misinformation, often without realizing it.

Studies show that the heightened emotional state caused by anger can distort our memory of events and increase our confidence in incorrect information. For instance, imagine you’re at a peaceful protest that turns violent, and a reporter inaccurately describes the situation. How might this misinformation influence your memory of what happened? Research by Greenstein and Franklin explored this dynamic and found that anger not only made people more susceptible to misinformation but also led them to believe the false claims with greater confidence. In addition, when people are angry, they tend to make decisions more quickly—and those decisions are often less reasoned.

The Impact of Media on Public Anger

One of the primary ways anger spreads is through the media. In today’s competitive news environment, many outlets seem more focused on provoking emotional reactions than providing unbiased, factual reporting. Sensationalized coverage is designed to stir outrage, which drives ratings and boosts social media engagement. But here’s the problem: the angrier people are, the more susceptible they become to false information. Whether it’s left-wing or right-wing media, the effect is the same: anger breeds misinformation.

Consider this: every day, news sources present events with a specific angle, often highlighting conflict or controversy to elicit an emotional response. This emotional trigger not only makes viewers more likely to accept misinformation but also reinforces their existing biases. Anger distorts our perceptions of the truth and makes us less willing to seek out diverse perspectives. We become more entrenched in our views and less open to hearing alternative viewpoints—this is known as confirmation bias.

The Psychological Toll of Anger

Here are some key takeaways from studies on anger and misinformation:

• Anger fuels the rapid spread of misinformation. Negative emotions, like anger, make people more likely to believe and share false claims.
• Anger doesn’t impair memory, but it makes us more vulnerable to misinformation. When we’re angry, we’re less likely to dismiss false claims and more likely to incorporate them into our memory.
• Anger distorts our judgment. Angry individuals tend to make quicker decisions, often without fully considering the facts, which can lead to errors in thinking and decision-making.
• Anger leads to confirmation bias. When we’re angry, we seek out information that aligns with our existing beliefs, which deepens polarization and division.

A Path Forward: Reducing Anger in the Media and in Ourselves

So, what’s the solution? First and foremost, we need to ask the media to stop exploiting anger for profit. News outlets should focus on presenting facts, not on stirring emotions to drive viewership. Fact-checking should be a priority, not a joke. Unfortunately, too many media outlets have abandoned the role of neutral journalists in favor of becoming partisan influencers, creating a media landscape where it’s harder and harder to tell the difference between truth and spin.

For all of us, the solution lies in practicing emotional discipline. The Bible wisely counsels us to be “slow to anger” (James 1:19). Before you fire off that angry tweet or respond to an inflammatory post, take a breath. Slow down. When we allow anger to cloud our judgment, we open ourselves up to misinformation and poor decisions. By consciously choosing to step back from anger, we can make better decisions and, over time, reduce the grip anger has on our collective consciousness.

Conclusion

Anger may feel powerful in the moment, but its long-term effects are dangerous—not just for our health, but for our understanding of the world around us. In an age where misinformation is rampant, we must be more vigilant than ever about the emotions that drive us. Media outlets and individuals alike need to take responsibility for the emotional impact of their words. And we, as consumers of media, need to be aware of how anger can distort our thinking and judgment. Only then can we begin to break free from the cycle of anger and misinformation that is shaping our society.