Abstract
Carver and Harmon-Jones review evidence that anger is an approach-related affect. It coheres with goal pursuit and with neural and behavioural signatures of approach. It does not reduce to aggression, and it is not the opposite of positive striving.
The implication used on this shelf is narrow. A practice that downregulates every strong affect in the name of balance will also downregulate approach. Calm can be real skill. It can also be a motor with the current turned down. The paper does not license cultivating anger, and it does not diagnose flatness.
Carver, C. S., & Harmon-Jones, E. (2009). Anger is an approach-related affect: Evidence and implications. Psychological Bulletin, 135(2), 183–204. DOI