Anger Vs Child
Anger in most children should not be taken too seriously. As the child grows older, outbursts of anger become fewer and longer. The most common causes of anger for the first few years include restrictions of movements. interference in play activities. and direct conflict with aut!writy. With increasing age. anger responses become more specifically directed at the obstructing person or object, frequently taking the form of fighting.
Around two to three years of age tcmper tantrums are rather common ways of expressing anger and closely asscciated with tantrums is the negativistic behavior we spoke of earlier. Negativism is a form of anger in which the child refuses to cooperate. often doing the opposite of what he is told. It is sotvpical that psychologists regard it as normal bchador. As the child gradually learns more and more effective habits in getting along with other people anger responses diminish. But the child who is frequently given in to when he becomes angry is likely to resort to more fits of rage because they get him what he wants.
Studies show that among parents who are tolerant with their children fewer anger respopses are found than among those children of critical parents who are unreasonably concerned as to whether they are "good" or "bad." By the time the child starts to school, he or she usually learns one way or another that anger does not payoff too often. As with adults, children show anger more frequently when they are tired, in need of sleep, or overstimulated. If the general psychological climate is one in which one frustration piles upon another, anger may well erupt with the least provocation.
