When I did PSYC1001 & PSYC1002 at The University of Sydney, the lecturers declined to provide sample final exam questions from past years. So, to help my fellow future students, I created a few of my own based on my experience of the subject: (more…)
The tendency among many modern people to deny their anger and pretend that they do not get upset when their needs aren’t met, fuelled by the overwhelming fear of speaking the words: “I feel angry”.
Often the result of misguided cultural or spiritual teaching that portrays anger as a “negative” emotion that must be avoided, suppressed or denied at all costs.
Let It Out, Dude
Anger denialists are deeply afraid of both their own inner rage and the anger of others, leading them to shut down healthy expressions of anger in themselves and others, in order to avoid their own feelings of guilt, fear, shame or embarrassment.
Over the long term, this leads to a sense of frustration that finds outlet via passive-aggressive behaviour which alienates other people, leaving them even less likely to meet the anger denialist’s needs; thus fuelling an ongoing cycle of thinly repressed rage.
The resulting suppressed anger can lead to explosive and unexpected outbursts when triggered, and/or may be internalised as anxiety and depression in the truly strident denialist.
It’s been over 20 years since I did The Landmark Forum and life since then has been a constant series of breakthroughs and breakdowns. But there’s been one persistent irritation over that time: other people.
I consistently find myself in challenging situations with other people thinking: “This asshole would be a lot easier to deal with if they did The Landmark Forum”.
I even had a friend once who made me wrong for using the phrase “made me wrong”.
It’s not a cult
I’m a little tired of being a circle adrift in a sea of triangles. I suspect that the whole world would be a better place if everyone did The Landmark Forum; especially the people who don’t think they need to, because they tend to do the most damage.
Some of these people really need to be slapped around the head by a Landmark Forum leader.