Why do people tend to become more aggressive when asked to pay debts? Psychiatrist and lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition at IPB University, dr Riati Sri Hartini, SpKj, MSc, reveals the psychological and biological reasons behind this condition.
According to dr Riati, this response is closely related to financial stress and threats to self esteem.
“From a psychological and neuroscientific perspective, debt collection can trigger severe pressure that erodes a person’s ability to manage their emotions. Financial stress and feelings of threat to self-esteem reduce coping skills and emotional control,” she said.
Biologically, she continued, this pressure activates the amygdala—the part of the brain that acts as a threat detection center—while weakening the function of the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for rational judgment and emotional regulation.
“This condition puts the brain into fight or flight mode, so the responses that arise tend to be defensive and aggressive, rather than reflective,” said dr Riati.
Thus, she said, aggressive behavior when being asked to pay debts is not merely a matter of attitude. “It is a psychological-biological response to stress, shame, and threats to one’s identity in stressful financial conditions,” she explained.
Not a Mental Disorder
Even so, dr Riati emphasized that this aggressive reaction does not necessarily indicate a mental disorder. In many cases, it is a natural reaction when someone is under pressure.
“Financial problems put the body and mind under stress. When being asked to pay, feelings of shame, fear, and being cornered can arise simultaneously, causing people to react with intense emotions. This is more like a reflex of someone who is shocked, not because of mental illness,” she said.
As long as anger only arises in certain situations, such as when being asked to pay debts, and does not occur continuously, it is still considered a normal stress reaction. However, dr Riati cautioned that the situation warrants concern if anger frequently arises in various situations, is difficult to control to the point of harming others, disrupts work or social relationships, and is accompanied by other complaints such as severe sleep disturbances, prolonged feelings of hopelessness, or risky behavior.
dr Riati categorizes aggression when being asked to pay debts as an acute stress response, which is a normal reaction of the body and brain when facing severe pressure or sudden threats. A similar response can also occur when someone feels psychologically threatened, experiences frustration because their goals are blocked, faces sudden unexpected stress, is in intense interpersonal conflict, or when their physical and emotional condition is not fit due to fatigue and lack of sleep.
She also explained that financial stress, including pressure from debt, is indeed associated with an increased risk of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. However, debt is not the sole cause of mental disorders. “The causes of mental disorders are multifactorial, involving biological, economic, social, and psychological aspects,” she said.
A person’s response when being asked to pay debt is also influenced by who is asking. If it is a friend or close person, the reaction that arises is often embarrassment and offense because self-esteem and social relationships are also threatened.
Meanwhile, if the person collecting the debt is a debt collector, the situation is more often perceived as a threat, triggering acute stress and defensive responses such as heightened emotions or verbal aggression. “Even though they both appear fierce, neither is a sign of mental disorder,” she said.
Regarding how to deal with this situation, dr Riati advises that people who encounter aggressive individuals when collecting debts should not immediately fight back or pressure them. “Usually, they are not looking for trouble, but are under pressure and overwhelmed. A better approach is to calm the situation, speak softly, avoid cornering them, and invite them to find a solution together,” she said.
According to her, a calm approach can help reduce emotions so that the conversation becomes more rational. “The point is, people who are aggressive when being asked to pay their debts do not need to be scolded, but calmed down and invited to find a way out so that the problem does not get bigger,” she concluded. (dh) (IAAS/EPK)
