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.