Can anger issues be genetic?

The question of nature and nurture come up in mental health again and again. To what extent do nature, genetics, and hereditary factors influence our behavior, and to what extent do our experiences or nurturing influence us?

Put very simply, anger can run in families, and genetics can play a role, but learned behavior is also involved. The role of genetics is still under investigation. Research has shown that mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder have genetic components, and these disorders and others often have anger or irritability as a symptom.

Learned behavior is behavior that we learn from witnessing behavior within our families, from our caregivers. Because our caregivers are frequently our family members, the anger that may seem to run in families may be learned behavior. If angry outbursts are the norm in your family of origin, you may find yourself struggling with them later. This doesn’t negate the potential genetic connections but does play a role.

Anger isn’t always a problem and can even be a positive emotion in some instances. If anger is something you feel is problematic for you, there are some things you can do.

Examine your family medical history to see if any mental health conditions which may feature anger as a symptom are in your family tree. Talk with family members about their memories of relatives and experiences. Even without someone knowing a diagnosis, if you find out that your grandfather frequently had angry outbursts and seemed sad sometimes, there is a history of a mental health issue that can help you talk with your doctor or licensed mental health professional about it your concerns.

Talk with your doctor or licensed mental health professional about any symptoms you’re experiencing and are concerned about. They can assess your present situation with a fresh set of eyes and help offer explanations for uncontrollable anger or other things you may have noticed. Depending on your circumstances, medication, therapy, or a combination of the two may be helpful. Even outside any mental health diagnosis, therapy can be very helpful with managing anger and learning powerful coping skills for dealing with anger when it arises.