Getting angry when things are going south is common and let’s be real, when we’re under too much stress, anger is the only emotion that comes easily to us. But, how you express anger can be different. Say, if I’m angry then I would keep my anger inside until I’m alone to express it but there are people I know who, in their anger, react quite aggressively.
Anger is a powerful emotion and motivator. It can make you productive and even help solve problems or it can make you a threat to others. Righteous anger is justified but when your anger gets out of control, then it can cause problems.
If you’re prone to explosive and volatile anger, then you can understand when I say that you lash out aggressively and either scream, yell or even throw things. You might have also heard people saying to you that you have severe “anger issues”. But you know that no matter how hard you try, your anger is always out of your control.
So, how to tell if you have a serious anger problem?
Well, recently there has been a viral trend going around on TikTok; Multidimensional Anger Test. This is an anger issue test (free to take) that can help you understand if you have an anger issue and if you need to seek a diagnosis from a professional.
Let’s take a look below at what this multidimensional anger test is all about and what makes it so popular on the internet.
What Is The “Multidimensional Anger Test?”
The multidimensional anger test is a free anger test developed by IDRLabs. (Do not confuse this test with the Multidimensional Anger Inventory). The multidimensional anger test is a test with 38 assessments and self-reflective questions that can help you understand your experiences with anger and how you react (with anger) under normal circumstances in your daily life.
Keep in mind that this multidimensional anger test isn’t accurate but it can help you reflect on your anger issues and experiences with anger. The first step that you need to take to know yourself better is to understand what or where your issues stem from. The test results you get would encourage you to think about your experiences in life and what happened that gave rise to your anger issues.
From the works of Dr. Judith Siegel, this multidimensional anger test will map out your experiences with anger in five dimensions, namely;
- Anger Arousal
- Anger Spectrum
- Hostile Outlook
- External Anger
- Internal Anger
This test can be used in clinical settings or for research purposes. Here are some examples of the questions asked in this test, followed by my result (for reference purposes only).
Multidimensional Anger Test: Examples And Result
Some questions (out of the 38) that are asked in this anger test can be;
- People sometimes bother me just by being around me.
- I often feel angrier than I think I should.
- When I get angry, I calm down faster than most people.
- I get angry when I am not given proper credit for something I have done.
- I am on my guard when people act friendlier toward me than expected.
- I get angry when I have to take orders from someone less capable than me.
- It is easy to make me angry.
- If I let people see the way I really feel about things, I’d be considered a hard person to like.
- If (or when) I hide my anger from others, I think about the thing that made me angry for a long time afterward.
- I get angry more frequently than most people I know.
- I feel guilty about expressing my anger.
- When I am angry with someone, I take it out on whoever is around.
- My friends and loved ones know that I have the capacity to become angry.
The scale for the answers to these questions is a Disagree, Neutral, and Agree scale so all you need to do is slide the pointer toward the right scale depending on the question. Here’s my result;
Anger arousal is the frequency or duration of your angry responses. If you score high on Anger Arousal, then you’re quick to anger and your anger has an affective charge that can feel overwhelming.
Anger spectrum is the range of situations that can trigger your angry response. If you score high on the Anger spectrum, then you’re likely to let your frustration turn into anger.
If you rank high on the Hostile Outlook, then you carry a cynical view of the world and don’t trust people easily. You often assume that others are lying and do not have good intentions. Under this dimension, you may experience a wide range of angry thinking but not always angry emotions.
External anger is your tendency to take your anger out on the people around you or your surroundings. This anger is noticeable to others and if you rank high on External anger, then you’re known for your temper. This kind of anger can also make others stay away from you and keep a distance in your relationships.
Internal anger is your tendency to keep your anger on the inside without making others around you know about your emotion. If you score high on this test, then you’re likely to feel guilty over expressing your anger but also blame yourself for not being able to express your anger. You might also struggle with setting healthy boundaries.
Your Total Score indicates your total inclination and sensitivity toward anger. If your score is higher, then it could state an anger problem.
Is Anger And Aggression The Same Thing?
Anger is an emotion that can make you feel “antagonistic” toward someone or something. Anger is a common emotion; most people feel that anger is a negative emotion, which isn’t true. Anger can be helpful and can even help us understand more about our boundaries, especially when we’re unaware of them ourselves.
This is often misunderstood as aggression. Anger turns into aggression when it isn’t controlled or regulated properly. And when you leave aggression unaddressed and unregulated, it can turn into hatred.
On the other hand, frequent anger can increase your risk of heart disease. In some studies, it was observed that being able to manage emotions can help balance the relationship between blood pressure and anger.
So is anger the same as aggression? No. Anger is an emotion that guides us to express our feelings and even solve problems. It might not be easy to talk about your angry feelings or express your anger safely, but talking to a psychotherapist can help. A therapist can help you learn healthy anger management exercises and help you develop strategies to rein in your anger in the future.
What Next?
If you’ve taken the multidimensional anger test and gotten your score then you know how susceptible you are to anger than an average person. Working through your anger and the triggers that evoke your anger can help. Ask yourself, “How did you get angry?” “What triggered your anger?” “Is it anger or something else?” Answering these questions will help you start somewhere.
If you’re still unable to understand your anger issues, then you can reach out to a professional and speak to them about ways to control your anger. If you need an anger management class, then your therapist will be able to guide you to the right one for you.
I hope this article helped you learn about the trending “Multidimensional Anger Test” on TikTok and what makes this test so interesting.
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Take Care!
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