eli5: Why do we destroy/feel the urge to destroy things when angry? How does that relieve anger/stress?
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[Zaat](https://youtu.be/lPbtqklYCGM?si=jxWmMBFVdEjUeeDt) explains this phenomenon fairly well.
Anger is an effective communication tool evolutionarily because it is backed up by the legitimate threat of violence.
It’s the body’s stress response. Our bodies get flooded with stress hormones like cortisol, and we are evolutionarily wired to rid the body of stress hormones through physical movement (fighting or running). Our modern stressors aren’t tigers to run from, but our bodies don’t understand this. Interesting fact, when something like a deer goes into a freeze response, they use physical movement (shaking) to release the stress hormones afterward.
When the urge to destroy something comes on, try laughing instead. That stimulates the vagus nerve and activates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest/digest), which counteracts your sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight/freeze/fawn).
After you break that thing, the realisation hits, guilt overtakes anger. So, it is not like anger subsides, but guilt/realisation overtakes.
It is an ancient form of blackmail. When a person starts destroying objects (or harming pets, livestock, people…) , other people are inclined to yield to their demands. You’ll notice an angry person only acts out this way when they believe they can achieve someting and never when they know they can’t intimidate the people around them. Just something to keep in mind.
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