Need a word for the inability to feel anger
I need a term for the inability to feel anger. Features desired:
- Single word
- Prefer connotations of incapacity rather than benefit
- Prefer reasonably clear specificity to anger
- More clinical tone slightly preferred over less clinical
To illustrate what I mean by #2 and #3, I considered serenity, but that word has positive connotations rather than connoting incapacity, and implies the absence of emotions besides anger (fear, for example).
Solution 1:
When one is unable to feel anger, and incapable of feeling any strong emotions, I would say that person is numb.
You can be numb with grief; unable to shed tears and to express your sorrow. You can be so stunned and be in shock that your whole mind and body is paralysed or frozen into a state of inactivity; this goes for emotions too.
In wikipedia I found this article: Emotional detachment
Emotional detachment, in psychology, can mean two different things. In the first meaning, it refers to an "inability to connect" with others emotionally, as well as a means of dealing with anxiety by preventing certain situations that trigger it; it is often described as "emotional numbing" or dissociation, depersonalization or in its chronic form depersonalization disorder.
Solution 2:
What about "non-irascible"?
i·ras·ci·ble : having or showing a tendency to be easily angered
from lat "ira", anger, wrath, rage
Solution 3:
I do not think there is a clinical term that is specific enough. Most will have strong psychiatric connotations. The only terms with clinical undertones that come to mind are inirritable, sedate and non-choleric or uncholeric.
Here are a few alternative suggestions:
unirascible
Wrathless
Unincensed
Unspleened, spleenless
Angerless
avirulent
stomachless, gall-less
The bold ones are negative in connotation in my opinion, and mean incapable of being roused to anger.
Solution 4:
You could also go for phlegmatic:
- having a stolid or unemotional disposition
- not easily excited
I would tend to use it for someone who is excessively calm and, to me, it carries slightly negative connotations.