According to PRI, anger is a defense mechanism.
PRI means Past Reality Integration. You can read a post where I introduce the concepts of PRI by clicking here.
Anger is part of the defense mechanism called False Power. The main use of anger is to avoid uncomfortable feelings. Anger is an easy way out when something happens where you feel you can take control back by acting out your anger.
Let me give you examples of why I say anger is a feel good emotion. Let's say you are in a bus, standing. You get hit from behind. You turn back, ready to shout at whoever it. You realize it's a blind person. Your anger is replaced instantly by compassion. You ask if the person is hurt or needs help, and you say "no problem" as he apologizes.
Another example is a car moving right in front of yours, missing by inches. Most people will be angry and start shouting at that dangerous driver. It's so much easier to react that way, instead of staying calm and smiling when you realize nothing happened and you're still on your way to whatever your errand is.
Most if not all parents have screamed at their kids from time to time. No matter how good our parenting skills are, there are moments where we are simply tired, and it's so easy to turn to anger to get back control of the situation.
In all those examples, anger can be used to try to solve a problem. Sometimes it works. However, there's one result you always get when you get angry. The other person won't like it. They might not retaliate, some will forgive you. But keep using your anger, and you'll hurt the relationship.
In most situations we go through as adults, anger is not recommended. It's a cop out, an excuse. It demonstrates how weak we are in that particular context.That weakness is our brain playing against us, with past memories of things we haven't dealt with.
PRI describes anger as a way to avoid pain from past situations.
There's something in the situation that makes you angry, that something is a symbol. Your brain is triggered by it, and anger comes to the rescue. If you choose instead to not be angry, you'll feel the emotion hiding behind.For more complete information on how PRI can help you deal better with your anger, I encourage you to read Past Reality Integration: 3 Steps to Mastering the Art of Conscious Living. It's an excellent book describing in detail a great method to integrate your painful memories and make them manageable.