Anger Free

Anger, according to psychologist Gentry, is a universal human emotion serving several ""positive functions,"" such as resolving conflicts, promoting self-esteem and motivating needed action. But, Gentry claims, some 20 million Americans suffer from toxic anger syndrome, or TAS, which involves ""a level of anger that is experienced by otherwise normal people much too frequently, is too intense, and lasts too long."" Caused by a combination of genetic temperament and ""lifelong bad habits,"" TAS exacts a high cost in all areas of the person's life--economic, social, vocational, mental and physical. Using the damaging aspects of TAS as ""disincentives,"" Gentry's ""ten basic steps"" toward freedom from this problem include self-awareness, stress reduction, personal assertiveness, learning empathy, physical exercise and self-expression through writing and speaking. Gentry provides a comprehensive yet succinct description of the causes and effects of TAS, a diagnostic self-assessment tool, many exercises and specific examples of out-of-control anger episodes. He delivers a surprisingly exhaustive view of abnormal anger, and his treatment exhibits much greater depth of understanding than the usual hold-it-in or let-it-out approaches. (Mar.)