Board Thread:False Info and Speculative Discussion/@comment-4148963-20150723204349/@comment-13895380-20150724000934

I think an anchor is an experience that connects you to your humanity. It is often a very significant memory in your past as a human, that reminds you of who you are.

Examples:

- Scott's anchor was Allison, as their love was so strong that it always reminded him that he's still human -- that he's still Scott

- Isaac's anchor was the unplugged chest freezer, as his strong feelings of isolation and sadness there always reminds him of who he is, thus connecting him to humanity

Derek's anchor is probably something along these lines. There was probably a past experience that angered him greatly (maybe something that happened to a family member or loved one), and serves to be his anchor to humanity.

In general, it seems like someone's identity as a human is what stops them from becoming a monster. The same thing happened with Jackson, as the key sparked his memory with Lydia, an important part of his life. Also, berserker Scott, who is supposed to be completely gone from humanity, was reminded of his identity when Liam said "You're not a monster...you're a werewolf, like me" because that was what Scott said to his first beta (Liam), a special moment they shared which is bonded to his identity.

So it's not the feeling of anger that is an anchor for Derek to control himself. It is more likely the feeling of anger associated with a particular moment significant to Derek's life that is his anchor to control himself.