Anger/Indignation (Miller and Jasper)

Definition of Indignation

• an anger over something perceived as unfair, immoral or plain mean

• a feeling that tends to favour action

• an unpleasant feeling in that it relives a slight or moral breacjh, points to some future resolution, revenge and redess → crucial for politcal mobilisation

2. components to indignant action

1. a sense of being morally justified or in the right

2. a feeling of strenght and confidence that action may make a difference

→ people in weak positions may express their indignation even though they expect to be punished or killed: power of indignaiton

the moral roots

• always contains an element of morality: a violation of a moral code/ an instiution

• entails finding humans to blame

• arises when the dignity of a person or group is violated

• indignation as evidence of people’s dignity and as a way of protection dignity

• moral shocks can trigger indignation and renew energy for politcal participation

• can lead to satisfaction through moral pride

Self-assertion

priviledged groups: allowed, encouraged and admired for expressing indignation

oppressed groups: discouraged and punished for it

→ emotions differ depending on one’s place in power and status hierarchies, with anger generally aimed downwards

examples: oppressed racial-ethnic groups being feared and criminalized

→ people who feel powerful tend to express anger and indignation, those that feel powerless tend to express fear

• membership in a group can provide the confidence to express indignation

anger gap

• differences in Black and White American’s uses of anger in politics

• whites are angrier in the political realm and use their anger to mobilise participation

• Black people are reluctant to express anger (stigma → can lead to social and legal consequences): often turn to positive emotions

Indignation and protest

• one of the key emotions to motivate people to participate in politics and protest

• moral shocks can be used by protest movements to maximise indignation that energizes their members

Conclusion

• black and white people have different access to anger

• close connection between indignation and moral principles and intuitions

• revolves around blame and victims & villains

• centrality of indignation to protest and politics