How Hunger Can Turn Nice People 'Hangry' ‘Hangry’ is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as being “bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger.” According to the American Psychological Association, ‘hanger’ is a complicated emotional response involving an interplay of biology, personality and environmental cues. A study by Jennifer MacCormack, a doctoral candidate at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, suggests two findings about ‘hanger.’ 1. Hunger alone isn't enough to make someone ‘hangry’ Hungry people need to be in some negative situation or subject to negative stimuli before they start feeling 'hangry.' 2. People are less likely to become 'hangry' if they are aware of their emotion. Hunger makes us slightly unhappy but we might not always realize that our mood is shifting. Being aware of your emotions will help you fight off being ‘hangry.’ A well-known commercial once said, 'You're not you when you're hungry,' but our data hint that by simply taking a step back from the present situation and recognizing how you're feeling, you can still be you even when hungry. Jennifer MacCormack