About 35 years ago, I attended a talk by the Dalai Lama in Edinburgh. Someone asked him, “You’ve discussed love and the dangers of anger today, but isn’t anger useful? Doesn’t it get things done?” His response was insightful. He said, “Yes, anger does get things done quickly, and that’s why you have to be very careful with it.”
Anger acts like a car’s gas pedal, speeding things up. If we’re using anger to accelerate, we must ensure we’re heading in the right direction.
Psychologists have mixed feelings about anger and outrage. Moral psychologists typically see outrage as harmful because it disturbs our well-being and can be destructive. However, intergroup psychologists, who study interactions between different groups, often view outrage as positive due to its role in uniting people for change. Nowadays, many psychologists consider emotions like outrage neither inherently good nor bad. What matters is how we use them. Thus, it’s crucial to think about whether our outrage or anger is effective or not.
Outrage isn’t necessarily linked to anger. According to my dictionary, “outrage” means to arouse fierce anger, shock, or indignation. This implies that outrage can exist without anger. I often feel outrage as a shock to my conscience paired with a strong desire to right a wrong, without feeling angry. Anger, on the other hand, is personal and often involves hurtful words. While outrage can lead to anger, it can and should be managed to avoid ineffectiveness, which is why I’m writing this article. This distinction is my understanding, and you might see it differently.
Moral outrage has driven positive changes, such as reducing injustices. For instance, if an environmental group wants to raise awareness, images of polluted areas often provoke more outrage and action than pictures of beautiful landscapes. Though motivating, outrage can also be harmful by leading to bullying or destructive anger, as seen with online mobs targeting people for minor offenses.
Recently, Buddhist journalist Robert Wright discussed the effectiveness of outrage through two cases: Jeanine Pirro’s anti-Muslim comments on Fox News and the “Russiagate” investigations of the Trump campaign. In Pirro’s case, public outrage led to her suspension, demonstrating outrage’s power to influence cultural shifts. However, in “Russiagate,” the investigations would have proceeded with or without public outrage, showing times when outrage makes little difference.
Practical differences arise when advertisers react to public outrage. For example, they might pull their ads if a TV presenter says something offensive, prompting the presenter’s employers to take action, such as suspending the presenter. Outrage can be effective, minimal, or have disproportionate effects, but it’s challenging to predict the outcomes.
Outrage is also draining. It takes a psychological and physical toll, especially when it turns into anger. It can become addictive, making us feel united with others who share our views. However, living in a constant state of outrage is unhealthy and can lead to mob behavior.
To manage our outrage effectively, it’s crucial to ask: Is my outrage proportionate? Is it useful? These questions help prevent us from getting swept up in collective emotions and exhaustion. Some suggest avoiding outrage entirely, seeing it as an unskillful emotion. Buddhism suggests eliminating anger by learning to moderate our passionate energies and directing them wisely.
Intentional action without anger is more effective and efficient. Outrage indicates that an injustice needs addressing and can motivate powerful, positive actions without necessarily including ill will.
The Dhammapada says, “When anger arises, whoever keeps firm control as if with a racing chariot: him I call a master charioteer. Anyone else, a rein-holder — that’s all.” This illustrates managing our driving forces without letting them control us.
So, balancing our levels of anger and outrage and selecting our passionate responses carefully helps us channel these emotions constructively without getting overwhelmed. The goal is to recognize and act against injustices while maintaining equanimity and loving-kindness.