An angry Jewish settler boy looks out from inside a synagogue as Israeli policemen and solider storm inside in the Neve Dekalim settlement in the Gush Katif, August 18, 2005. Israeli troops stormed two Gaza Strip synagogues and dragged out screaming settl
IN PHOTO: An angry Jewish settler boy looks out from inside a synagogue as Israeli policemen and solider storm inside in the Neve Dekalim settlement in the Gush Katif, August 18, 2005. Israeli troops stormed two Gaza Strip synagogues and dragged out screaming settlers and supporters on Thursday in assaults on the last bastions of resistance to a pullout from the occupied territory. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Anger is usually considered a bad behavioral trait. Though it is common to all, most often society looks down upon public display of aggression. A study by the researchers of the University of Michigan has found that contrary to the negative perception of aggression, in some cultures anger is viewed positively. It is seen that it indicates good health in certain cultures.

Few studies in the West have linked anger with ill health and "frustration, poverty, low status and everything else that potentially compromises health," said Shinobu Kitayama of the University of Michigan. Pointing towards the latest study she said that this was true only in the West and in different cultures anger was perceived differently.

For their study, they analysed the data from the midlife in Japan in America and Japan respectively. They took into account the bodily functions that were said to be linked to anger. This included inflammation and cardiovascular health. The participants frequency of anger expression and aggressive behavior was also measured. The data showed contrasting views of anger in the two cultures. While the Americans had linked increased risk of ill health among those who had greater frequency and manner of expressing anger, for those in Japan it was quite the opposite. Participants who had expressed anger more frequently were linked to better health with lesser risk factors.

Though the two cultures linked anger to different biological effects they only considered the emotion and health, no taking into consideration the social status, gender, age, other negative emotions, smoking and other unhealthy habits while making the association.

Kitayama explained that till date western studies have always showed the drastic negative impacts anger could have on the health but in Japan greater the anger, better the health was what was noticed. Cultural differences play a huge role in the perception of human emotions and the manner in which it is accepted.

"These findings show how socio-cultural factors go under the skin to influence vital biological processes," Kitayama said. The study is published in the Journal of Psychological Sciences.

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