Displaced Anger: Everything You Need to Know

Displaced (or misplaced) anger is when someone transfers their anger to someone or something other than what initially triggered it. For example, someone angry with a decision their boss made may direct that anger at a co-worker or friend who had nothing to do with the situation. Displaced anger can lead to displaced aggression—physical or emotional hostility toward someone or something other than the initial trigger.

Learn about displaced anger, possible causes and effects, treatment options, and more.

Displaced Anger Causes

Displacement of feelings or behaviors, including displaced anger, is a defense mechanism, something the mind unconsciously or unknowingly does to self-protect against a threat or perceived threat. People might use displacement and other defense mechanisms if they experience abuse or other traumas, especially as a child.

Additionally, displaced anger may result from certain mental health conditions. For example, there may be a relationship between anger displacement and aggression in people with bipolar disorder. Though people may displace anger or other feelings at times, this can become a problem when it is extreme or happens too often.

The Effects of Displaced Anger

Displaced anger can lead to displaced aggression, relationship conflicts, issues at work, and additional behavior issues. It can also make treating underlying mental health conditions that may cause anger more challenging.

Treatment for Displaced Anger

Treatment of displaced anger may involve healing from past experiences and traumas, addressing underlying mental health conditions, reducing stress, and learning anger management strategies.

Some possible treatment options for displaced anger include:

• Talk therapy (psychotherapy): A communication-based treatment with a mental health provider (like a therapist or psychologist), which uses different methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to better understand and manage thoughts and behaviors.
• Stress relief: Utilizing techniques and behaviors to calm the body and mind and decrease stress levels, including yoga, exercise, breathwork, and meditation.
• Anger management: A set of techniques (including breathing exercises and visualizations) that helps people with anger react differently when they feel angry.
• Treating mental health conditions: Treatment options include talk therapy, medications, complementary approaches such as nutrition changes and yoga, or a combination of these.

Coping With Displaced Anger

Because defense mechanisms like displacing anger are unconscious patterns, people who exhibit them may initially be unaware of their actions. However, becoming aware of patterns and changing your response are possible. Working with a mental health provider, such as a therapist or psychologist, can help. Learning how to cope when you feel angry can help prevent your anger from escalating.

Strategies helpful for coping with anger include:

• Breathing techniques
• Words, mantras, or visualizations that promote relaxation
• Light/low-impact exercise (e.g., walking, yoga)

Summary

Displaced anger happens when someone transfers their frustration or anger to someone or something other than what triggers the feeling. Displaced anger is a defense mechanism that may result from abuse or trauma (especially from childhood), death or illness, or underlying mental health conditions. It can lead to displaced aggression, which involves causing physical or emotional harm to other people or things.

Treatment options for displaced anger include talk therapy, stress relief, anger management, and treatment for mental health conditions.

A Word From Verywell

Suspecting and living with displaced anger can be challenging for the person displacing the anger and the people around them. If you're displacing anger often and it's interfering with personal relationships and daily life, reach out to a mental health provider for support. You can learn to manage your anger before it escalates.