Gabriel Rolón: 'Anger is an emotion we are entitled to'

Buenos Aires, Argentina – Psychoanalyst and writer Gabriel Rolón has highlighted the importance of acknowledging anger as a fundamental human emotion, stating, “Anger is an emotion to which we are entitled.” Rolón argues against the notion of forbidden emotions, asserting that experiencing anger in response to perceived injustice, intrusion, or hurt is a basic right.

During an appearance on the program Perros de la Calle, Rolón cautioned that the true challenge lies not in the emotion itself, but in how individuals process and manage its intensity to prevent destructive outcomes. "It's not always good not to get angry. Anger is an affect that is sometimes necessary and to which one is entitled," he emphasized, noting that emotional responses vary based on personality.

Rolón draws a clear distinction between the internal experience of anger and its external manifestation in behavior. He explained that feeling angry is different from acting violently. "If I get angry and go and crash my car into your door, that's one thing. If I get angry and you say, 'Look, I don't feel like talking to you anymore,' that's another thing," he exemplified, illustrating that the right to anger ceases when it causes harm to others.

From a professional standpoint, Rolón views anger as an alarm signaling that personal boundaries have been violated, serving as a necessary catalyst for self-love. He connects managing boundaries with integrity in relationships, defining love as a power granted to another. The health of this love, he posits, depends on the voluntary renunciation of using that power to inflict harm during conflicts.

Rolón insists that preventing anger from becoming pathological requires conscious and courageous effort, freeing the term from unattainable expectations. While acknowledging the past shapes identity, he stresses that well-being is determined in the present, urging individuals not to postpone happiness or rely solely on idealized memories that distort lived reality. He warns against seeking magical solutions for managing human passions, advocating instead for a responsible approach.

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No es bueno siempre no enojarse. El enojo es un afecto que a veces es necesario y al que uno tiene derecho.