Sunday, March 25, 2012

Conflict Management: Understanding Anger and the Brain

Conflict in the workplace is an ever-growing issue and more and more of my clients are requesting programs on Managing Angry People, Angry Patients, Angry Guests, etc. The one question I'm asked most often after one of these presentations is, "Is it possible that when I'm really angry, my brain just takes over? Because there are times I don't feel like I can control my own anger."

The answer is yes - the brain can be hijacked. Emotions can take over sensibility when we become really angry or someone triggers one of our "hot buttons."

The cerebral cortex is the thinking part of the brain where logic and judgment reside. The emotional center of the brain is the limbic system which is more primitive than the cerebral cortex.

So where do you think anger resides in the brain? Yes, you got it…When anger is being experienced or expressed, it's primarily coming from the limbic center of the brain.

Now let me introduce you to the amygdala, which is part of the limbic system. The amygdala is like a warehouse of emotional memories and acts like the fire alarm for our brain. The amygdala can only react based on previously stored patterns.

When information enters into our brains, the thalamus acts like a traffic cop who keeps the signals moving. In a normal situation the thalamus directs the signal to the cerebral cortex for processing in a logical manner. If the incoming info triggers a potential threat or an emotional charge, the amygdala can override the cortex and BOOM - you have an "amygdala hijacking."

During an amygdala hijack, a flood of hormones and peptides are released that cause a physical or emotional reaction. A surge of energy follows that prepares the person for the "Fight or Flight Response," also called the "Fight, Flight or Freeze Response." This hyper arousal or acute stress response was first described by Walter Bradford Cannon. The amygdala goes into action with no cognitive thought such as evaluating, judging or thinking; which means that there is no regard for consequence.

Now that you know what an amygdala hijack looks like within the brain, here's what it looks like on the outside:

The person is usually out of control and will say and do things they later regret.

This state lasts an average 20 minutes.

Although the adrenaline clears the body fairly quickly, longer lasting hormones and their impact can last several hours or even a couple of days.

How to deal with someone experiencing Amygdala Hijacking:

During the time of an amygdala hijack, avoid any attempts to resolve a situation or discuss a solution. There's little or no ability to rely on intelligence or reasoning. It is best to allow the person to vent and wait until their thoughts move from the emotional area to the thinking area of the brain.

What can I do if it I am the victim of Amygdala Hijacking?

After the hijack it is important to spend time to recognize and identify what your triggers are. I have an exercise where I have my workshop participants identify 2-3 of their responses to anger. When we go around the room and share, attendees realize just how similar or completely different people react to anger. By knowing what triggers our "hot buttons' we create an emotional awareness that allows us to consciously react differently. This may take a little time but it can be done.

Anger can escalate quickly, even when we think we are de-escalating the situation. By understanding the different responses to anger, we can prevent an emotional tug of war Self-awareness is the key to managing our own anger and is also the key to de-escalating anger in others.

How this knowledge helps keep you and others safe in the workplace

Whether it is a co-workers involved in a personality conflict, an angry boss berating an employee, co-workers who are under pressure to complete deadlines, or an angry client, customer, or patient, most of us have never been taught how to de-escalate another angry person.

By understanding how the brain sometimes acts like a bully, by being aware of what triggers our hot buttons and using de-escalation techniques most "amygdala hijackings" can be resolved without escalated violence.


----------------------------------------------------
Carol Fredrickson is the CEO and Founder of Violence Free. Clients rely on her skills and expertise to prevent 6 and 7 figure lawsuits and avert workplace violence. Over 100,000 people have benefited from Carol's powerful messages. Visit http://www.violence-free.com for Carol's most requested topics that may be a fit for your next meeting. Reach Carol at carol@violence-free.com or 623-242-8797.


EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=257675

No comments:

Post a Comment