What Can You Learn From An Anger Issues Test?

Everyone tends to get angry from time to time. Anger can be a natural response to being threatened; its intensity can vary from mild irritability to rage. Some people experience anger issues that may lead to harmful behaviors, which can have significant repercussions for their personal, social, and professional lives. 

Anger issues tests can help you assess your level of anger and offer insight into how it may affect your daily life, but not all tests are the same. Keep reading to learn more about anger issues and how they can relate to mental health, the types of anger assessments you may see in clinical settings, and what they can teach you. Therapy can be beneficial for individuals who want to address difficulties with anger.

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What are anger issues?

“Anger issues” is not a clinical term but a phrase that some people might use to describe someone who gets angry frequently or whose anger may be out of proportion to the situation at hand. Because it is not a clearly defined term, it can be challenging to determine whether you have anger issues or if what you are experiencing is in line with what is typically accepted as an appropriate response in your society or culture.

How to know if you have anger issues

People often demonstrate their anger in different ways. According to psychologists, those who are easily angered likely have a low tolerance for frustration, so they may struggle to take things in stride and could have significant reactions to something other people perceive as minor. Many factors can contribute to the way someone handles anger, including genetics, family background, and whether they have been taught how to channel anger appropriately.

The Multidimensional Anger Inventory

The Multidimensional Anger Inventory (MAI), developed in 1986, considers several factors of anger, including duration, frequency, hostile outlook, magnitude, mode of expression, and anger-eliciting situations. Analyses determined that the test had high consistency and adequate test-retest reliability, which is determined by giving the same test to the same group of people in the same way at two different times, and then comparing the scores of each test.

The MAI uses a series of statements and asks people to agree or disagree with each one. For example, some of the statements include the following:

• It is easy to make me angry.
• I get so angry that I sense I might lose control.
• I can become angry about something in the past just by thinking about it. 
• I get angry when I do something stupid.
• I get angry when someone lets me down. 
• At times, I feel angry for no specific reason.
• I am on my guard with people who are friendlier than I expected.
• When I get angry, I stay angry for hours.

The Novaco Anger Inventory

Another clinical test used to evaluate anger is the Novaco Anger Scale and Provocation Inventory (NAS-PI). The NAS-PI was initially developed in 1994 and is based on the idea that anger is an emotional state that leads to elevated physiological responses that can lead to violence. 

The original version consisted of 48 items that evaluated cognitive, arousal, and behavioral subscales and 25 items that focused on situations that may cause anger. Additional evaluations of this anger test found it consistent, with good test-retest reliability. 

When taking this anger test, people are typically given a list of statements, and they must evaluate how angry each item would make them on a scale of zero to four, with zero being a little or not at all annoyed and four being very angry. Some of the statements in this test include the following: 

• You are talking to someone, and they don’t answer you. 
• Someone makes a mistake and blames it on you. 
• Someone pretends to be something they’re not. 
• You are hounded by a salesperson from the moment you walk into a store. 
• You get your car stuck in the mud or snow.

Anger as a symptom of other mental health disorders

Anger can be a symptom of several mental health conditions: 

• Intermittent explosive disorder
• Oppositional defiant disorder
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Bipolar disorder

The relationship between anger and anxiety

Anxiety and anger can be linked in many ways. Both emotions tend to lead to similar physical responses, including a racing heart rate, tight muscles, headaches, and diarrhea, and both can be associated with a lack of control. When faced with something with which they are unprepared to cope, some people may become anxious, while others may respond with anger.

Can anger and anxiety trigger one another?

It’s possible that anger and anxiety could trigger one another. For example, people who experience long-term anxiety may become frustrated with their situation and react in anger. It can also be challenging to stay calm when experiencing anxiety, and when pushed, someone in an anxious state may respond with anger. People with severe anxiety conditions may also experience anger if their anxiety interferes with their lives, preventing them from reaching their goals. Conversely, a person who experiences angry outbursts may become anxious about the impacts of their behavior.

Taking an anger test

If you are being evaluated for an anger issue or a mental health condition involving anger, you may take a clinical anger test with your doctor or therapist. There are also numerous anger tests available online, although these may not be accurate and cannot replace a professional diagnosis.

What you can learn from an anger test

Mental health professionals can use clinical anger tests to determine the degree to which anger may be affecting your life and use it to inform a diagnosis or treatment plan.

Online anger tests are not replacements for professional guidance, but they may help you understand how your anger is interfering with your daily life and decide whether you should pursue professional help.

Anger management and treatment

Treatment for anger that is a symptom of another mental health condition usually depends on the specific condition and can involve a variety of techniques.

For people who experience anger without a co-occurring mental health condition, several techniques may help.

Approaches to anger management to improve mental health

Here are some strategies you can try to manage your anger and improve your mental health:

• Using relaxation techniques: Techniques like deep breathing and imagery exercises can lessen anger in the heat of the moment. Try taking slow, deep breaths while visualizing a place where you feel calm and relaxed. Practice these techniques regularly so you have them ready when you need them. 
• Improving communication: People can sometimes jump to conclusions, which can be inaccurate interpretations of what someone else is trying to say or do. If you are in a conversation and sense that it is becoming heated, slow down and avoid saying the first thing that pops into your head. Think carefully about what you want to say and listen to what the other person is saying so you do not misinterpret them.
• Changing your environment: If you are in a situation where you sense you have become stuck or trapped, and you begin to feel angry, take a break and walk away. For example, if you are at work and a situation with a coworker becomes tense, excuse yourself from the situation and go for a walk. Go up and down the stairs a few times to burn off steam, or head outside and walk around the block to get some fresh air and clear your head. A change of location and some time away can help you better prepare to manage challenging situations without having emotional responses that are out of proportion.

Getting professional help

If you have tried multiple techniques to control intense anger but find that it is still affecting your relationships and daily life, consider working with a therapist to help you understand the origin of your anger and learn coping skills to manage it more effectively. You don’t have to have a mental health diagnosis to work with a therapist, but if your anger is a symptom of another diagnosis, they may be able to provide treatment for that as well.

Learn coping strategies to manage anger

Connect with a licensed therapist

There are many ways to get treatment. One of the most convenient and flexible may be online therapy, which allows you to attend sessions remotely, so you don’t have to worry about commuting to an office. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can work with a licensed mental health professional from the comfort of your home or anywhere you have a reliable internet connection.

According to a 2023 study, online therapy may effectively reduce maladaptive anger. Participants generally experienced reduced anger expression, aggression, and anger rumination.