Do you often get angry? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. Bad traffic, disagreements with people and other occurrences can potentially be a nuisance. But can you control your temper or do you bristle with rage every time someone crosses you?
One footballer known for his temper is Liverpool striker, Louis Suarez. After a confrontation in a match against Chelsea, he sank his teeth into his opponent Branislav Ivanovic's flesh. The bite caused outrage and he was ordered to go on an anger management course.
In 2007, supermodel Naomi Campbell was ordered to take the same type of classes by a New York court after pleading guilty to assaulting her housekeeper.
If you are not famous, your anonymity might spare your blushes when it comes to meltdowns in public but it might not keep you out of court. Many ordinary people may be referred by the police or a doctor, or simply sign up themselves.
The theory of anger management was developed in the 1970s. The first reference to the term cited by the Oxford English Dictionary comes in 1975, in the work of US psychologist Raymond Novaco.
Today's courses are based on cognitive behaviour therapy, says Isabel Clarke, who has been running them for the UK's National Health Service in Southampton. She says: "What convinced me is seeing people change. For people who use anger and bullying to change that is a big ask."
It doesn't work for everyone. About 30% of people dropped out. But for those who persevered, it led them to change their behaviour, says Clarke.
Among the recommendations for people with a short fuse are: accept that different opinions are acceptable, listen to the other person and don't take anything personally.
Control used to be seen as repression. But these days letting it all out, ranting and raving, is viewed as destructive behaviour, says Antonia Macaro, the Financial Times' agony aunt.
Maybe the best thing is just count to ten when you feel you are about to hit the roof. It might not give you time to calm down but will allow the other person to run away.
Quiz 測驗 1. What did a Liverpool footballer do when he was angry?
Luis Suarez bit Chelsea's player Branislav Ivanovic.
2. What was Naomi Campbell ordered to do?
Go on an anger management course.
3. Is this statement true or false? People who don't take things personally are less likely to get angry.
True.
4. Which expression is a synonym of 'a tall order'?
A big ask.
5. Which expression means to make someone angry by not acting the way they want?
To cross someone.
Glossary 词汇表 a nuisance令人討厭的人或事 to control (your) temper控制（你的）脾氣 to bristle with rage火冒三丈 to cross somebody惹某人生氣 to sink (his) teeth（動詞）咬 outrage公憤，憤慨 anger management制怒（如何處理怒氣） to assault打人，毆打 to spare (your) blushes免於尷尬，不讓（你）難為情 a meltdown崩潰 cognitive behaviour therapy認知行為治療法 bullying欺負，恐嚇 a big ask很難的事情 short fuse急性子，火爆脾氣 repression壓抑，控制 to let it all out全都發洩出來 to rant大喊，大罵 to rave憤怒大叫 an agony aunt（報刊上的）答讀者問專欄作家 to hit the roof大發雷霆
