You wouldn't like me when I'm angry...
Recently, a study has been published linking anger to injury. Patients at hospitals in Boone County Missouri were asked about their feelings before an injury occured and found that an angry person was four times more likely to be injuried than one without ire. Health insurance costs are very high in the United States and with anger being more likely to land someone in the emergency room, this would relate to health care costs entirely. Many of the injuries are unnecessary because they occur in the home and can definately be prevented by controlling anger when using power tools for example. The article also reports that this trend in injuries doesn't apply to drivers as much because they can weigh the cost of repair bills if anger is negatively impacting their driving. This shows that that people understand the costs associated with uncontrolled anger, but are unable to see it when the cost would be to themselves as opposed to their vehicle. The obvious danger to people themselves can also be seen with one scientist named Bruce Banner, who was unable to control his rage. This rage made him into a hulk of man that would destroy his laboratory and injure the ones he loved. Anger definatly makes people do illogical things that end up costing them money in the long run, whether it is hitting your thumb with a hammer or breaking a window. How can these decisions be made even though they marginal costs severely outweigh their benefits?
1 comment:
Perhaps to answer your question, we must consider that when a person is angry, there judgment will be severely biased. Having said that, anger seems to have a large impact on decision making. Let's try and take it from an economist's view. What is the marginal cost of becoming angry? Some might say that the cost of someone becoming more enraged is the threat or possibility of releasing that anger on something/someone else in a negative manner. However, the marginal benefit could be the fact that the person is releasing that anger in a positive manner. Releasing the anger which unless otherwise held in, may result in future emotional and psychiatric problems. Ultimately, one would have to decide where the optimal quantity of anger lies. This area generates the maximum possible total net gain of anger release without over exertion. If only everyone was able to find their optimal quantity of anger, no one would have to turn green.
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