Psychologist Anett Müller-Alcazar and her colleague Reinhard Maß proved this in a study. Those who are unable to express their anger and assert themselves against others have a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms in the long term.
Constructive aggressive behavior can (like destructive aggression) be triggered by emotions such as fear, anger, or desire. But the behavior itself is not the emotion. Rather, it is a key that maintains the balance between cooperation and competition between individual group members. For some people, constructive aggression as "healthy behavior" doesn't seem to work. "It can be inhibited by dysfunctional core beliefs that can arise under unfavorable developmental conditions," say the authors. For example, religious or ethical beliefs. Experiences of violence in childhood. Punishment of undesirable behavior in childhood (e.g., breaking off contact) Attitude towards anger (acceptance vs. rejection).