Anger as a Secondary Emotion Most people have no idea that anger is a secondary emotion that is usually experienced in response to a primary emotion such as hurt and fear. Anger can be an almost automatic response to any kind of pain. It is the emotion most of us feel shortly after we have been hurt. When you trip and fall or drop a hammer on your toe, it hurts, and you may experience mild anger. When your son corrects or talks back to you in public, it hurts, and you may respond to him (probably