Which part of the nervous system is engaged in response to social provocation and anger?

The sympathetic nervous system is the part of the nervous system primarily engaged in response to social provocation and anger. This system is responsible for the body's 'fight or flight' response, which activates physiological changes that prepare an individual to confront or escape from a perceived threat. When faced with anger or social provocation, the sympathetic nervous system triggers increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and heightened alertness, allowing a person to react swiftly in potentially challenging situations.

The parasympathetic nervous system, while crucial for calming the body after stress, is not the system that engages during the initial response to anger or provocation. Its primary role is to promote relaxation and recuperation, counteracting the sympathetic response. The cognitive nervous system is not a recognized division of the nervous system and does not play a direct role in physiological responses to emotional stimuli. The peripheral nervous system includes both the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems but does not specify the activated response to anger.

Understanding the distinction between these systems helps clarify how our bodies react emotionally and physically to social challenges.