Anger and Neoclassical Rationality

Abstract:     
This paper evaluates the rationality of anger in the light of a standard notion of economic rationality. Whether anger is rational or otherwise cannot be answered in general, but will depend on the economic setting. As long as anger can be explained as a preference in a parsimonious and stable utility function, it does not make sense to talk of anger as rational or irrational. The production of anger is subtly mediated by a variety of cognitive factors. These (and the cognitive effects produced by anger) underlie what are the genuine problems that anger creates for rational choice.

Keywords: anger, emotions, rationality, cognition

JEL Classifications: C91, D11

Working Paper Series