Reply #8: When a dog is 'growling' at you

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Is the dog just 'talking' to gain your attention so you'll play with the dog or is the dog sending a warning to you that an offensive attack may come? How we answer that question is based on our own life experiences, conditioning, and knowledge.

It almost sounds to me that what you are describing isn't anger. It may be fear, confusion, frustration. These emotions could be expressed with anger. And no, anger as a behavior doesn't achieve anything. Anger is very primal.

In what you refer to as motion anger I can tell the difference between someone who is just pissed and yelling at me to express their anger and someone who is preparing to attack me. Motion anger would be communicated with body language. Slamming your fist on a table. Breaking a dish. These would be expressions of motion anger. But I refer back to the dog. Someone who is experienced with dogs could tell the difference. It's the same with people. A trained mental health professional can 'usually' tell the difference between someone who is expressing emotions like fear, confusion, and frustration AND someone who is most likely to become violent.

I only witnessed one 'take down' when I was in-patient. He was high. I'm guessing the next day he probably didn't even remember what happened. Most people would have probably looked at him and said he was angry. I didn't see that. I saw a person very afraid. He was thrown in a facility against his will. The lead staffer talked to him. She was very calm and did her best but eventually he started taking wild swings at people. At that point they did the 'take down' and carried him off.

How we signal the emotions you mention are usually in a manner that we have trained ourselves. The crying baby will usually immediately garner attention from a parent. The baby learns that crying will bring attention to them.

It comes down to how we communicate. Anger has no place in a constructive discussion. The simplest way to express to someone that you are frustrated is to tell them "I'm frustrated because (fill in the blank)"

As I re-read this it appears I'm all over the place with my comments. I 'think' I know why you are asking the original question so I'm trying to address my response to best fit your criteria.

I have an Anger behavior problem. It's much better than it was. My SO has also learned not to put me in any situation that might bring out Mr. Hyde.

You've obviously done your homework on this subject and have me at a disadvantage. I can't communicate with you at the same intellectual level.