Bad Manners Are Making Men Angry

It’s not a belly full of beer, a touch of the green eyed monster, or even a losing football team that are most likely to make a man blow his top, but bad manners. According to a poll of over 1028 British men by Men’s Health magazine, a surprising 68% said rude people were to blame for their aggressive outbursts, followed by work (57%), queue jumpers (55%), people who show a lack of common sense (54%) and other road users (50%).

Others blamed tiredness (45%), hunger (24%), public transport (23%), sexual frustration (24%), and people who talk loudly on their mobile phone in confined spaces (23%).

Sixty-five percent admitted they are more aggressive now than they were ten years ago citing today’s impatient “grab-and-go” society (36%), increasing intolerance (20%) and longer more stressful working hours (14%) as the reasons why.

One in five British men has been in trouble with the law for their aggressive behaviour, although in 30 percent of these cases, men claim they were merely protecting someone else. Drunkeness was cited as a cause in a third of cases.

On the road

Travel on our roads featured highly in the top ten triggers of aggression. With most acts of road rage caused by people who pull out without looking (29%), people driving slow in the fast lane (16%), erratic drivers weaving in and out of traffic (13%), and over cautious drivers (14%).

On public transport

For those men who saw red on public transport the unhelpful attitude and incompetence of some public transport employees (19%) topped the list of causes. Overcrowding (16%), delays (14%), other commuters (11%), unexplained delays (11%), slow journeys (8%) and drivers who don’t wait when they see you running (9%) also pushed respondents to the edge.

Men who had been aggressive towards other commuters cited people pushing onto transport when there is clearly not enough room (22%), bad hygiene (19%), queue jumping (14%), people using more than one seat (12%), loud mobile phone conversations (11%), and people playing music (10%).

The survey coincides with the December issue of Men’s Health which asks the question ‘Why Are We So Aggressive?’ And why do men self destruct? Take football genius Zinedine Zidane who threw away his dream of retiring as a World Cup winner in one moment of madness.

“There’s a lot of evidence to suggest men are hard wired to be aggressive. At one time it would have been a useful evolutionary trait, but for some men it’s the only coping strategy they have, and that’s no good.” said Morgan Rees editor of Men’s Health Magazine.

“And aggression isn’t just damaging mentally but it is also bad for our bodies. Research has shown men with high levels of aggression die younger than calmer men,” said Rees

Solutions

Men’s Health recommends these anger-busting tips:

- Omega 3s (found in oily fish and meats and cheeses from grass-fed animals) can have a positive effect on behaviour (according to research in the US).
- For people who have a very high level of aggression, there are anger management courses that have shown to be very effective.
- Take deep breaths and if in a room where someone has made you angry, walk out of the room for a few minutes.
- The best method is exercise. Whether you’re using the treadmill at the gym, riding your bike in the park or taking a brisk walk, exercise releases endorphins which create euphoria.

So next time a colleague is making you mad, the driver in front of you has cut you off or your flight is delayed, take a few deep breaths and if possible (depending on your situation) get some exercise (even if it’s just for 15 minutes).