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Anger is one hell of a drug.

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Neonatal RRT said:
Agree. It's been a pretty much consistent cultural norm across time and the world that men are considered "weak" if they express their emotions. In any position of power and authority, males are absolutely not allowed to demonstrate emotional vulnerability, as all respect is lost immediately. Even within the typical family dynamic, fathers and husbands will lose that respect. Men NEVER receive unconditional respect or love. It's always on the condition that they have high degrees of emotional self-control and self-discipline and are providers. It's likely why their female partners get so upset and reject their male partners when they do express their emotions. Given the consistency of this type of behavior across time and cultures, I am inclined to think this is almost an instinctual protective mechanism that heterosexual men have when interacting with women.
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What a catch 22 and what I have observed too
 
I read that being in a position of power/ authority increases testosterone. Which I'd speculate lead to more dominant behaviour and less submissive emotions
 
thejuice said:
I read that being in a position of power/ authority increases testosterone. Which I'd speculate lead to more dominant behaviour and less submissive emotions
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I think that feeling of power and control gives a short term boost to what effect your testosterone levels have, but mostly levels are increased by exercise as well as being influenced by genetic makeup.
 
Outdated said:
Testosterone increases both sex drive and aggression, it does the same in both men and women but men have much higher levels of testosterone. Go on you tube and have a look at some videos of kangaroos fighting, very often they have an erection at the same time.
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Yeah, women have no idea about that testosterone thing. It really messes with your entire being. As my physician would say, "There's 100X more testosterone receptors between your ears than there is between your legs." There's a part of me that is always looking at other males as some sort of competitive entity. You "size them up" emotionally, intellectually, and physically. It's that testosterone-induced aggression. I'm nearly 60. One part of my brain says that I am a shadow of what I once was physically, but the other part of my brain says I will never back down from a challenge. I think that's why young men have to be careful when messing around with older men. The young man just wants to physically overtake you, the older man will beat you with skill, wit, and wisdom.

Regarding the kangaroo experience, I know that boxer Mike Tyson has admitted he would get an erection during fights. Thank God for baggy boxing shorts and protective gear to hide it. LOL!
 
Metalhead said:
Being addicted to whining is no way for a man to be living.

I need to pick myself up, clean my side of the street and be content with that.

Anger leads to self-pity, self-pity leads to entitlement, entitlement leads to addictive unhealthy behaviors. I need to take my own inventory here.

So my anger is righteous and justified. But it is like guzzling poison while I want the world to die.
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I know this too well. It's a painful cycle that holds us hostage. But that's the first thing we must question about ourselves.

Why am I getting so upset?

Is it really worth the energy?

What has this anger done for me?

I am not saying you, or anyone, are not allowed to be angry. But there needs to be a point where using logic should take priority, over letting your emotions guide you alone.

Same with fear. Fear is just as potent, when left unchecked.

No matter what you maybe told by those who torment you. Whether it's family, friends, or your own mind. You are your own person. You don't need to bow to the will of others, nor be like them.

Be yourself. Detach the chains that hold you down and be free of the void that tries to consume you, body and soul.

Find the want, and the will, to fight. It'll be hard, but worth the struggle.
 
Neonatal RRT said:
There's a part of me that is always looking at other males as some sort of competitive entity. You "size them up" emotionally, intellectually, and physically. It's that testosterone-induced aggression. I'm nearly 60. One part of my brain says that I am a shadow of what I once was physically, but the other part of my brain says I will never back down from a challenge. I think that's why young men have to be careful when messing around with older men. The young man just wants to physically overtake you, the older man will beat you with skill, wit, and wisdom.
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That's very much my experience as well. But after getting on to this topic I was thinking back to my pubescent years and I realise that testosterone levels probably played a big role in how I stood up to my father, and other people later on in life as well. I always had a very high sex drive, even now I'm almost 60. (next year)
 
thejuice said:
Some trans men are beginning to understand when undergoing masculinisation hormone therapy !!
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A lot of female body builders have to learn the same lessons. For women testosterone is created in the thighs and increasing muscle there increases their testosterone levels.
 
Boogs said:
Some of the less palatable and sanitised descriptions of human combat have recorded not dissimilar behaviours and involuntary responses.
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There has to be a reason why millions of young enthusiastic men are willing to sign their future away and risk getting scattered and buried where they lay by random exploding ordnance, inside a muddy ditch, within a hostile, unknown foreign land. Wouldn't they rather just potter about at home? The call to adventure seems irresistible.
On top of the the fact that fighting feels good, there is also the desire to prove utility, devotion, loyalty and protection of the tribe. Increase status with women by being a warrior and therefore probability of procreation. If you give in to weaselly survival instinct over the male honour code of sacrificing one's self for the greater good, then you can stay at home and get the white feather! (Even your own mother would be ashamed)
 
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Outdated said:
That's very much my experience as well. But after getting on to this topic I was thinking back to my pubescent years and I realise that testosterone levels probably played a big role in how I stood up to my father, and other people later on in life as well. I always had a very high sex drive, even now I'm almost 60. (next year)
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When my older brother and father visit I feel myself shrinking, like I am almost taking up less space. I think the increasing and diminishing of testosterone in relation to where you are plopped on the social and competence based hierarchy contributes to its stability. Of course this doesn't mean a tyrannical leader that consistently steps out of line cannot be toppled by a comparatively strong, scheming group of betas!
 
thejuice said:
I read that being in a position of power/ authority increases testosterone. Which I'd speculate lead to more dominant behaviour and less submissive emotions
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Alpha's (mostly males) strive for dominance and social/work hierarchical positioning in an unstable and volatile environment. There are always competitors, and in the main (not always though) they progress up the ladder due to bullying, manipulation, luck and (not to put too finer point on it) licking the backside of a chosen senior sponsor - doing their bidding in the hope of being (unfairly) favoured for promotion. It's a dog eat dog world at that level on the whole, and to show weakness (emotion) only gives your enemies a weapon against you, and if you would use that against them you'll fear them using it against you and protect against it. Not to mention the fact that attack is the best form of defence.
Hence this behaviour is very prevalent, and high testosterone makes it more likely that person will fit in this group, providing the aggression and drive to compete at that level, feeding into a change in their hormonal and metabolic states, that likely exacerbate the whole thing - a positive feedback loop.
 
If I had to guess I'd say anger is likely a survival (long or short term) reaction, a way of generating motivation and adrenalin for successful aggressive action, but that may have worked well (evolution would suggest that's the case) when we were hunter gatherers, now we live in static communities mostly, it's not so well suited and triggered in inappropriate situations (like many other instincts).

Anger is incompatible with civilised behaviour, it diminishes the ability to cooperate and compromise.
 
Boogs said:
Anger is incompatible with civilised behaviour, it diminishes the ability to cooperate and compromise.
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It pays to remember that we are Apex Predators. Whilst we now wear the trappings of civility that hasn't really changed, we are still predators.
 
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