Anger Can Be an Effective Tool for Attaining Challenging Goals, Research Suggests

Study finds anger improves attainment in a variety of challenging situations and spurs effort, but does not impact easier goals or the direction of decision-making.

Research conducted by the American Psychological Association suggests that anger, a typically perceived negative emotion, can effectively motivate individuals to achieve challenging goals.
The research involved a series of experiments with over 1,000 participants - these included word puzzles and video games, designed to test the influence of various emotions, including anger, on goal attainment.
Findings showed that anger improved individuals' ability to reach their goals in challenging situations such as solving complex puzzles or navigating a difficult video game, with observances of increased scores or shorter response times.
One experiment even found that anger led some participants to cheat in order to achieve a better outcome - indicating the emotion's strong motivational drive.
Analysis of data from the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections revealed that potential voter anger over a preferred candidate not winning actually increased the likelihood of them casting their vote. However, anger had no influence on which candidate they voted for.
The study results highlight the potential for a balance of positive and negative emotions, including anger, to promote overall well-being and success in challenging situations.