Getting angry can help a person get things done.

Angry people perform better in tasks

Angry people perform better in tasks

A new study has found that getting mad boosts performance and productivity in tasks as it is a powerful motivator.

The American Psychological Association surveyed over 1,000 people, who were triggered into experiencing a specific emotion and then given tasks such as solving word puzzles and levels in a challenging video game.

The research concluded that rage typically elicited the best performance, including shorter response times and higher scores.

Lead author Professor Heather Lench said: "People often believe a state of happiness is ideal, and the majority of people consider the pursuit of happiness a major life goal.

"The view that positive emotion is ideal for mental health and well-being has been prominent in lay and psychological accounts of emotion, but previous research suggests a mix of emotions, including negative emotions like anger, result in the best outcomes."