With the transition to the new year, I spent time reflecting on the past year and my hopes for what the new year will bring. As part of this thought process, I found myself focusing on the idea of passion—reflecting not only on my own but also on the passion I see in others. Interestingly, what began as a positive exercise made me realize that what drives and motivates many has changed. My reflection led to a feeling that anger has become the driving force behind many people’s actions, replacing the passion and enthusiasm that once fueled personal and societal progress.

Whether it’s in politics, social movements, work environments, or even interpersonal relationships, it seems that many of us are more motivated by frustration and outrage than by a genuine love for our goals. Don’t get me wrong; I believe anger has a purpose, and it has shown benefits in helping some attain their goals (Lench et al., 2024). However, when it becomes the dominant driving force, which I’ve seen more often recently, it can lead to personal dissatisfaction, burnout, and even societal division.

The Brain’s Response to Anger vs. Passion

Both anger and passion activate the brain’s reward system. Specifically, they both release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with motivation and pleasure. Yes, anger and even aggression are associated with the reward-seeking system of our brain (Narvaes & Martins de Almeida, 2014). However, anger is also linked to the brain’s fight-or-flight response, triggering stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones create arousal and a sense of urgency and power, but prolonged exposure can be harmful. Passion, on the other hand, promotes a more balanced and sustainable form of motivation, engaging areas of the brain related to creativity and long-term planning (St-Louis & Vallerand, 2025).

Social and Cultural Reinforcement

Interestingly, modern culture often seems to reward and even amplify anger. For example, on

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