"It Was Like They'd Lit a Fuse": A Mixed-Methods Investigation Into Rage

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Impulsive violence is linked to rage states.
• Rage is often considered extreme anger, but its distinctiveness is debated.
• Understanding rage's relationship to anger is crucial for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if rage is part of the anger continuum or a distinct phenomenon.
• To investigate the correlates of rage and anger in a large student sample.
• To identify subgroups at risk for rage and anger.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative and quantitative measures of rage, anger, and related psychological factors.
• Path analysis to examine correlates of rage and anger.
• Latent profile analysis to identify risk subgroups.

Main Results:

• Rage experiences share similarities with anger but include unique components like loss of control.
• Emotion dysregulation, aggression traits, and borderline personality traits predict both rage and anger.
• Two subgroups at risk for rage and anger were identified.

Conclusions:

• Rage is largely supported as a form of extreme anger with distinct features.
• Early targeting of personality dysregulation may reduce anger and rage.
• Findings inform therapeutic approaches for impulsive aggression.