Frustration

In psychology, frustration is a common emotional response

to opposition, related to anger,[1] annoyance and
disappointment. Frustration arises from the perceived
resistance to the fulfillment of an individual's will or goal
and is likely to increase when a will or goal is denied or
blocked.[2][3][4] There are two types of frustration: internal
and external. Internal frustration may arise from challenges
in fulfilling personal goals, desires, instinctual drives and
needs, or dealing with perceived deficiencies, such as a lack
of confidence or fear of social situations. Conflict, such as A frustrated man sitting in a traffic jam

when one has competing goals that interfere with one

another, can also be an internal source of frustration or
annoyance and can create cognitive dissonance. External causes of frustration involve conditions outside
an individual's control, such as a physical roadblock, a difficult task, or the perception of wasting time.[5]
There are multiple ways individuals cope with frustration such as passive–aggressive behavior, anger, or
violence, although frustration may also propel positive processes via enhanced effort and striving.[6] This
broad range of potential outcomes makes it difficult to identify the original cause(s) of frustration, as the
responses may be indirect. However, a more direct and common response is a propensity towards
aggression.[7][8]

Causes
Frustration originates from feelings of uncertainty and insecurity which stem from a sense of inability to
fulfill needs.[9] If the needs of an individual are blocked, uneasiness and frustration are more likely to
occur. When these needs are constantly ignored or unsatisfied, anger, depression, loss of self-
confidence,[10] annoyance, aggression, and sometimes violence are likely to follow.[11][12] Needs can be
blocked two different ways; internally and externally. Internal blocking happens within an individual's
mind, either through lack of ability, confidence, conflicting goals and desires, and/or fears. External
blocking happens to an individual outside their control such as physical roadblocks, difficult tasks, or
perceived waste of time, especially when those roadblocks or challenges were unexpected, or if the
individual expected the goal to be easy to accomplish. Frustration is usually less when an individual
expected, or knew beforehand, that the goal would be "challenging."

Some people are predisposed towards feelings of frustration, measured by childhood temperament, and
adult neuroticism.[13][14][15]

Frustration can be classed as a mental health problem–response behavior and can have a number of
effects, depending on the mental health of the individual. In positive cases, this frustration will build until
a level that is too great for the individual to contain or allow to continue, and thus produce action directed
at solving the inherent problem in a disposition that does not cause social or physical harm. In negative
cases, however, the individual may perceive the source of frustration to be outside their control, and thus
the frustration will continue to build, leading eventually to further problematic behavior (e.g. violent
reaction against perceived oppressors or enemies).[16]

Stubborn refusal to respond to new conditions affecting the goal, such as removal or modification of the
barrier, sometimes occurs. As pointed out by J.A.C. Brown, severe punishment may cause individuals to
continue non-adaptive behavior blindly: "Either it may have an effect opposite to that of reward and as
such, discourage the repetition of the act, or, by functioning as a frustrating agent, it may lead to fixation
and the other symptoms of frustration as well. It follows that punishment is a dangerous tool, since it
often has effects which are entirely the opposite of those desired".[17]

Frustration tolerance
Frustration tolerance is one's ability to resist becoming frustrated when facing difficult tasks. Having a
low frustration tolerance is related to trait anger and a higher level of frustration tolerance is related to
lower levels of anger and longer persistence on difficult tasks.[18][19] For example, a child with a high
frustration tolerance may be able to deal with repeated challenges and failures without experiencing
significant frustration. The child with a low frustration tolerance can be quick to experience frustration
when asked to perform tasks of moderate difficulty.[20][21]

See also
Aggression
Depression
Disappointment
Frustration–aggression hypothesis

References
1. B.C., Gruenberg (1922). "Fighting" ([Link] In B. C. Gruenberg
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(2009). "When frustration is repeated: Behavioral and emotion responses during extinction
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division of Random House Inc. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-679-77917-9.
4. Boyd, Thomas L. (1982). "Learned helplessness in humans: A frustration-produced
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(4): 337–42, doi:10.1037/h0055861 ([Link]
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[Link]/pmc/articles/PMC9206675). Scientific Reports. 12 (1): 9876.
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([Link]
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[Link]/files/[Link]) (PDF). Dunedin Study. University of Otago.
Retrieved 8 March 2025.
16. Berkowitz, Leonard (1989). "Frustration-aggression hypothesis: Examination and
reformulation". Psychological Bulletin. 106 (1): 59–73. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.106.1.59 (http
s://[Link]/10.1037%2F0033-2909.106.1.59). PMID 2667009 ([Link]
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54..
18. Szasz, P.L.; Szentagotai, A.; Hofmann, S. (30 November 2010). "The Effect of Emotion
Regulation Strategies on Anger". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 49 (2): 114–119.
doi:10.1016/[Link].2010.11.011 ([Link]
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19. L.D., Trexler (1976). "Frustration is a fact, not a feeling". Rational Living. 11 (2): 19–22.
20. Liden, C. (February 2011). "9 Traits You Should Know About Your Temperament". Behaviour
Research and Therapy. 49 (2): 114–119. doi:10.1016/[Link].2010.11.011 ([Link]
016%[Link].2010.11.011). PMID 21185551 ([Link]
21. Calkins, Susan D.; Dedmon, Susan E.; Gill, Kathryn L.; Lomax, Laura E.; Johnson, Laura M.
(1 April 2002). "Frustration in Infancy: Implications for Emotion Regulation, Physiological
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3 (2): 175–197. doi:10.1207/S15327078IN0302_4 ([Link]
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External links
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