Anger and primary affects.

Introduction: Primary affective systems are embedded tools for survival, encoded in the genome and subsequently refined by basic learning mechanisms (secondary processes) and higher-order cognitions/thoughts (tertiary processes). In a healthy condition, the various systems receive adequate responses; when this is not the case, the over-activation or hypo-activation of one system generally leads to a cascade of alterations in other systems as well. The aim of this work is to compare some indicators of anger with basic affective systems. Methods: The Staxi-2, to measure anger, and the ANPS 3.1 to detect basic affective systems were administered to a sample of 456 subjects. Considering the indicators of the Staxi-2, the sample was divided according to the 50th percentile and groups were assessed with the one way ANOVA. Results: In the group with higher scores in Status Anger (R/S), Trait Anger (R/T), Expression of Anger Out (ER/Out), Temperament (RT/T), Anger Reaction (RT/R) there were also statistically significant differences in the scores of the FEAR, ANGER, Dominance, SADNESS systems. In the group with higher anger control scores, both internal and external, there are significantly different higher scores in the SEEKING, CARE, and PLAY systems and lower scores in the FEAR, ANGER, Dominance, and Social Anxiety systems. Higher CARE and SEEKING scores are found in the sample with low scores in suppression or non-expression of anger In (ER/In). Higher scores in FEAR, Dominance, Social Anxiety, and SADNESS are found in the group with higher scores in the general anger expression index (ER/In), while the sample with lower scores has higher scores in SEEKING, CARE, and PLAY. Discussion: Without comparing conditions of pathological or normal presence of anger, an increase or decrease in anger seems to affect all basic affective systems. In particular, it seems important to consider that the experience of anger also involves emotions of pain and fear, but above all, it is relevant to observe that the complex expression of anger plays a significant role in the SEEKING, CARE, and PLAY systems. In the diagnosis and care of patients, even when there are no obvious problems with anger, these issues seem to us to deserve careful consideration.