why do some people tend to wreck stuff when they're angry?

[Hawkon]

Don't know if this has been posted before, but it's something I really hate about _some_ people.

In a personal fight, or just in pure frustration, some people tend to wreck stuff, throw a chair into the wall, put something on fire, crush pictures, cellphones or even television sets.

Is it just me or is it an INTP thing that I don't see the point of wrecking something to "ease the anger"? It doesn't help wrecking something! If you need to let some steam out, you can knit your fist and scream, damnit!

[Lee]

Guilty...only very rarely, I don't make it a habit.

edit: Actually there is one thing that really provokes me into violence and I have a great amount of difficulty controlling it, when somebody pinches my sides (you know the bit, just below the ribs) I become uncontrolably angry :mad: and a prone to lashing out at the culprit, my main method of dealing with this is to give the other person a look that says "do that again and you die", usually I have no problems after that.

[Niflheimian]

Actually, when I'm mad...

The other day I was getting some ice from the refrigerator ice dispenser, and an ice cube dropped on my big toe, which already hurt from something else. I became infuriated, pounded the ice on the ground, and then went into my basement and dropped a rock on the icecube. I then collected the pieces (of ice) and put them in the drain. "Sorry, but behave next time...goodbye," I apologized.

Or another scenario:

I stub my toe on the corner of my bed and begin punching the bed corner ferociously, possibly even biting it.

(So yes, I get physical when I'm angry.)

That could explain why I'm a recycling fanatic and experience pain when water is wasted.

...Help?

[coffeezombie]

I've never broken things when mad... seems too barbaric. I'd rather throw them far away from me. That's more my style. :)

[Hawkon]

well, I too get physical when I'm angry. I just don't break anything. I like to hit the walls (such a stoneage man, I know.. me hit wall, me strong). But at least I don't put my fist THROUGH the wall, even if I wish to do so.

When stuff get f*cked, it'll have to be dealt with later - and I don't want to pay $20 just to feel satisfied for breaking something.

[Avengardh]

I have, but it was only a glass thingy.

Seeing the glass shatter on the wall...it's almost beautiful.

But other things? Nah, just glass, and I think it had to do with the fact that there was too much noise in my head that wanted out.

[Arioch]

Hmm how.... plebeian. I am rarely if ever angry enough that I would break things or even raise my voice unduly. There are often far more efficient ways of dealing with it... or rather the source of

[Boneca]

I slam doors when I get angry, or anything that makes a lot of sound. (Perhaps because I don't scream, no matter how angry I get. I need something else to make that noise.)

But breaking stuff, that is just stupid, you're going to regret it a few minutes later anyway.

[Ka.avik]

In a personal fight, or just in pure frustration, some people tend to wreck stuff, throw a chair into the wall, put something on fire, crush pictures, cellphones or even television sets.

While it's rare that I will lose control, and actually there is a narrow range of 'control' -- that is, if I have absolutely no control over any component of the environment or circumstances, I'll just wither in defeat (done that, as I recall) but, anyway...Screaming just isn't always enough, and you can't really kill people. Not and get away with it.

I'm not proud of it, but neither am I too proud to admit that there is a hole in my wall -- I don't know how to repair drywall, anyway -- because someone tried to hurt my horses. They disregarded my ability to care for my animals, and thought themselves more qualified to provide that care; so they stole one of my alfalfa bales, and dropped it into the field.

Yes, that could have killed either horse, or both. The only reason I'm buying this place is to have horses, and...well...I screamed too. but that just wasn't cutting it.

In conclusion, my answer to the question ends up being: because people suck. Personally, I try to avoid them, in general.

[Eileen]

Ha! My INTP boyfriend throws stuff when he's mad. I don't think it's a type thing. I used to have an incredibly physical temper myself, which people IRL just don't believe because I have such a sedate personality. But yeah, I used to throw stuff just to hear it break. It helped, really.

[songbird36]

I tend to lash out verbally rather than physically (I guess that admission surprise anyone who's read my posts today).

I can only remember one incident when I've actually hit anyone, and in that case it was a woman and I'd had too much to drink. I don't think I'd ever do it sober.

[Shai Gar]

i guess that we do it because we bottle every emotion up that when something very large comes at us we are so in experienced in these emotions that we just get frustrated and want to slam something. i am very guilty of this also

[Helios]

As my stress increases I move slowly, become increasingly analytical and detached. It is sorta weird, if a person or circumstance is pushing me, somehow that emotional stress creates this automatic repression reflex, I almost involuntarily became more calm, more logical. I can almost feel the energy of my anger being converted into a manufactured serenity. Once in a great while , like less than 4 or 5 times in my whole life I have buckled under sumpreme preasure. It always plays out the same, a brief fierce and hurtful verbal outburst! Then I shut down completely like a jacked up computer. I just sit there, and truely can't respond,care, or react to anything for a period of time. It is like I am spent for a bit. It is complete and total, but it doesnt last more than a day tops, maybe just a few hours.

[Geoff]

Heh, I cant remember I havent lost my temper in so long. But I dont think I ever broke anything or slammed a door. Sorry.....

-Geoff

[Birdsnest]

This is amusing, the story about the ice cube truly hilarious. I have seen others get violent and throw things, my ex did, he once took my 7 beautifully ripe avocados and smashed them all over the kitchen. I've never had the urge to throw things, I don't get that angry on my own. A bully type does provoke me, but I've never thrown things, I've just fought back.

[PonderBee]

Lessons Learned

I used to slam doors - the last time I slammed a door in anger it jammed and I was locked inside until my husband mercifully released me. Saying "Thank you" to the source of my original fury was humbling enough to put an end to the dramatic door slam.

I used to throw things - the last time it was a screwdriver and a man that worked for me walked into its path 8O ... narrowly missed his head - no more throwing in anger.

[earwax]

I used to resort to breaking things in my younger daze. Also used to throw out deliberately hurtful verbal insults.

But one time I had an experience with a good friend who had just become a Jehovah's Witness. His trying to convert me became so intense that I literally felt myself wanting to kill him.

It scared the hell out of me.. I really did have a religious experience that day, although not the one he wanted me to have.

Now I seldom let my anger get out of control.

[Claverhouse]

Hmm how.... plebeian. I am rarely if ever angry enough that I would break things or even raise my voice unduly. There are often far more efficient ways of dealing with it... or rather the source of
Pas devant les domestiques.




Claverhouse :ph34r:

[Eileen]

Heh, I cant remember I havent lost my temper in so long. But I dont think I ever broke anything or slammed a door. Sorry.....

-Geoff

Geoff, you're just so terribly balanced! Where is the crazy??!! Where is it?

[Geoff]

Actually I put it down to my childhood. I have an older sister who was (and still is) quite hyperactive. She has done most things wrong that are possible to do wrong. I am 18m younger and as a second child was classically ignored when young. I therefore ended up placid, able to look after myself, and quite happy to amuse myself.
I do have an anger it is just very difficult to rouse, but when I do it is quite impressive, dont worry.
I dont express tears more than once or twice in an adult decade either.
Maybe I have some crazy in there somewhere, but I dont know.
I went through the INTP reexamination of my soul at about age 28.. which meant that I spent a lot of introspective time with my own soul, and ended up quite depressed until I once again reconciled myself to myself. It nearly broke me in the process but I emerged reborn as a stronger me. And fundamentally unchanged, just with self acceptance.
Basically I am quite a kind person and that demeanour rules me (and yes it annoys people, I can see).
So I do know what it means to feel emotion, just rarely anger.
I doubt you were expecting a serious reply, but there you go.

-Geoff

[Eileen]

Basically I am quite a kind person and that demeanour rules me (and yes it annoys people, I can see).



Oh Geoff, I enjoy your kind demeanor. It doesn't annoy me at all. I was just joking. I find you very refreshing, actually.

[jimkopelli]

I see a bit of this in the architecture program... it gets to be three in the morning, someone doesn't like how their project is going... and exacto knives can cut through hours of work in seconds.


Ususally they're careful enough to go crazy on a model rather than what was supposed to be their finished product.