Will Smith: Rage or Righteous Indignation?
by Steve A Johnson, PhD
We have all heard multiple
times about--The Big Slap—Will Smith “smacked” Chris Rock at the Academy Awards
ceremony. Many of us are trying to make
sense out of it and are asking questions, such as…
·
Was it for real?
·
Why?
·
Is a poor modelling for children and
others who look up to Will Smith as a role model?
·
Was Will’s response a warranted and
appropriate form of support for his wife in the face of an insensitive and inappropriate
joke about her?
·
Is it just another example of toxic
masculinity in which wives are viewed and treated as property?
·
Is it evidence of a possible mental health
problem exhibited by Will Smith, something such as poor impulse control,
emotional dysregulation, misattribution of threat, or something else?
·
Is it appropriate and proportional
righteous indignation?
As a psychotherapist who
practices Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I wondered whether this
model can help answer some of these questions about the meaning of the event.
Let me try.
REBT does distinguish
unhealthy anger or rage from healthy anger, sometimes called
righteous indignation. Does this distinction help us assess the appropriateness
or inappropriateness of Will Smith’s behavior? Both unhealthy anger and
healthy anger begin with an individual attributing a
specific meaning to a situation or event. That meaning is someone or something has
violated a value or principle important to the individual. Apparently, Will
Smith believed that the joke by Chris Rock violated Will Smith’s principle of
fairness, appropriateness, compassion, etc.
However, what
distinguishes rage and righteous indignation are
the beliefs added to the meaning given to the event, in this case, Chris Rock’s
joke. The beliefs that might contribute to
rage are as follows:
1.
My important value/principle must not or
should not have been violated.
2.
It is utterly horrible or awful that it
was violated.
3.
I can’t stand it that it was violated.
4.
The one who violated it is no good, evil, totally
unjust, irredeemable, unforgiveable, etc.
The beliefs that might contribute
to healthy anger (righteous indignation) are as follows:
1.
I wish that individual had not violated my
value or principle.
2.
I don’t like that it was violated and wish
that it hadn’t happened, but it is not utterly horrible.
3.
I don’t like what was done, but I can
stand it.
4.
The person who violated it did something
wrong, perhaps very wrong, but the individual is not irredeemable,
unforgiveable, evil, etc.
Also, the behaviors
associated with unhealthy anger (rage) and healthy anger (righteous indignation)
are quite different. They are:
1.
Behavior associated with unhealthy anger:
Attacking or other aggressive behaviors
2.
Behavior associated with righteous
indignation: Assertive statement that the action was inappropriate and
unwarranted, statement of desire that the individual refrains from such
behavior in the future, statement that an apology is due, etc.
The bottom line is that
the behavior associated with rage is aggressive, condemnatory, and tends to
break relationships. The behavior associated with righteous indignation is
assertive, unapproving of the action, but does not break off relationship.
Did Will Smith exhibit rage
rage? It certainly looks like it. But then another question
arises, namely, should he be condemned? While his behavior does warrant being
declared as inappropriate, unacceptably aggressive, and may warrant appropriate
consequences? Condemning him might just perpetuate the relational break and
therefore not lead to Will Smith getting help for his anger, poor impulse
control, poor frustration tolerance and aggressive behavior.
What about those of us
who witnessed THE BIG SLAP?
The responses seem pretty typical
for where America is now regarding the ethics of violence. We are divided into at
least two communities: One community applauds Will Smith and the other condemns
him. REBT would not endorse either of these perspectives. The ideal perspective is that
we are one community - individuals connected to each other in
ways that protect and support each other for the common good. To maintain those
healthy connections, when one of us acts inappropriately, we need to help each
other. We need to have consequences for that individual, but have the ability to forgive and help those who act inappropriately so they can be empowered to change their ways
and contribute to the common good. We should have a common desire for the whole community to pursue
healthier individuals for a healthy community.
As I was thinking through
this event in light of REBT, I wondered whether the Bible supports REBT’s
distinction between rage vs. righteous indignation.
Take a look at this ancient wisdom referring to both healthy and unhealthy
anger as it is confirmed by modern science as seen in the REBT model.
·
John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may
have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I
have overcome the world.
·
Ephesians 4:26 In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go
down while you are still angry.
·
Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it
leads only to evil.
·
James 1:19-20 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry
because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
·
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving
each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
·
Matthew 5:43-44 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you.
·
Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how
many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to
seven times? Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven
times.
·
Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling
and slander, along with every form of malice.
·
Proverbs 29:11 A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s
glory to overlook an offense.
·
Ecclesiastes 7:9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for
anger resides in the lap of fools.
·
Colossians 3:8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such
things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your
lips.
It matters what we think because the way we think greatly impacts
our behavior and this behavior impacts how we live in community--whether we are
in harmony or chaos.