According to the mental health charity Mind
'Feeling angry is part of being human. It is a natural response to being attacked, insulted, deceived or frustrated. Sometimes, excessive anger can also be a symptom of some mental health problems.'
Unfortunately some people with autism become angry and aggressive very quickly and find it hard to deal with. The speed and intensity of their anger can be extreme.
When feeling angry, they do not appear to be able to pause and think of alternative strategies to resolve the situation
"The rapidity and intensity of anger, often in response to a relatively trivial event, can be extreme." (Attwood, 2006).
"When feeling angry, the person with Asperger's syndrome does not appear to be able to pause and think of alternative strategies to resolve the situation .. There is often an instantaneous physical response without careful thought. When the anger is intense, the person with Asperger's syndrome may be in a blind rage and unable to see the signals indicating that it would be appropriate to stop." (Attwood, 2006).
I can only speak for myself when I say that if one subject is on my mind or I am fascinated by something, then literally everything else is insignificant. I feel an overwhelming excitement in me that I cannot describe. I just have to talk about it and the irritation at being stopped can easily develop into raging fury.
(Source: Luke Jackson, Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome)
'We lived in hell too as each day followed the same pattern of huge violent, aggressive tantrums.'
(Source: Adult, Barnard et al, 2001)
'She can become violent. . . I've had to have police involvement many times as she has physically assulted my now 5-year-old several times and myself.'
(Source: Myers et al 2009)
We do not know what causes aggression in people on the autism spectrum.
It may be that " ... for some people with Asperger’s syndrome, there appears to be a faulty emotion regulation or control mechanism for expressing anger." (Attwood, 2006). This means they are more likely to use aggression or violence as a way of dealing with their anger.
For others, aggression may be a way of controlling their circumstances and experiences. "For example, they may threaten to hurt their mother if she insists on their going to school; or they may use violence to make her buy something associated with their special interest." (Attwood, 2006).
For others, aggression can be a way to make other people stop what they are doing – teasing or bullying – or simply a way to make them go away.
It is also possible that in some people with autism the aggression is masking a mood disorder, such as clinical depression.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced clinical guidance on the management and support of people on the autism spectrum.
This includes clinical guidance on challenging behaviours, such as anger and aggression.
Further information:
This page provides details of some of the most significant scientific studies and reviews on anger and aggression in people on the autism spectrum.
You can find more studies and reviews on anger and agression in our publications database
If you know of any other studies we should include please email info@researchautism.net with the details. Thank you.
If you know of any other publications we should list on this page please email info@informationautism.org
Please note that we are unable to supply publications unless we are listed as the publisher. However, if you are a UK resident you may be able to obtain them from your local public library, your college library or direct from the publisher.
This section provides details of other publications on anger, aggression, autism and related issues.
You can find more publications on anger and agression in our publications database.
If you know of any other publications we should include please email info@researchautism.net with the details..
If you know of any other publications we should list on this page please email info@informationautism.org
Please note that we are unable to supply publications unless we are listed as the publisher. However, if you are a UK resident you may be able to obtain them from your local public library, your college library or direct from the publisher.