Anger and Neoclassical Rationality

Zizzo, Daniel John

doi:10.2139/ssrn.894209

Abstract

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Anger and Neoclassical Rationality

Daniel John Zizzo

University of East Anglia - School of Economics and CBESS

March 30, 2006

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.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 30

Keywords: anger, emotions, rationality, cognition

JEL Classification: C91, D11

working papers series

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Date posted: March 31, 2006

Suggested Citation

Zizzo, Daniel John, Anger and Neoclassical Rationality (March 30, 2006). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=894209 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.894209

Contact Information

Daniel John Zizzo (Contact Author)

University of East Anglia - School of Economics and CBESS ( email )

Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ
United Kingdom