Is the pandemic causing us to behave badly?

The prolonged stress, uncertainty and grief of the pandemic is making people angry — and some of them are taking it out in public. A poll conducted by Monmouth University found that 41 percent of adults said the upheaval caused by the pandemic has made them angry. And that has caused people to have outbursts in grocery stores, on airplanes and other public places. 

Anger is a normal and natural emotion, according to mental health experts, and it’s a response to the frustration, grief and fear that the pandemic has caused. But when anger is uncontrolled, it can lead to physical health problems, relationship issues and can be harmful to others. 

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the increase in pandemic bad behavior with a New York Times journalist. And she talks about the causes of our anger and how to better manage it with a psychologist and an advice columnist.

Guests: 

• Sarah Lyall is a writer-at-large at the New York Times. She recently wrote an article about pandemic anger called “A Nation on Hold Wants to Speak With a Manager.” 

• Dave Decker is a psychologist in St. Paul who specializes in anger management.

• John Paul Brammer is the author of the advice column ¡Hola Papi!

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