Anger and anger expression in relationships

Abstract

This research investigated two developmental origins of anger and anger expression in partnered relationships. Emotions and behavior in intimate relationships may develop from observing parent behavior in intimate relationships. Such emotions and behaviors may also develop from observing parent behavior toward the child which he/she carries over into later intimate relationships. Three hundred sixty-one (104 males, 256 females) undergraduates completed measures of trait anger and anger expression regarding their (a) current, partnered relationships, (b) observation of parents/stepparents' anger in their partnered relationships while the student was growing up, and (c) parents/stepparents' anger toward the student growing up. Student anger in their intimate relationships correlated positively with parent anger both observed in parental relationships and experienced directly. Regression analyses showed paternal anger suppression toward partners was the only significant predictor of student relationship anger. Findings regarding anger expression were mixed. Student relationship anger suppression, negative outward anger expression, and anger-control each related to the respective anger expression styles used by parents towards partners and toward the student as a child. Regression models showed that student relationship anger expression variables had multiple predictors. For student relationship anger-in, maternal anger suppression with partners and paternal anger-in with students were both predictors. Student relationship anger-out was predicted by paternal anger-out toward students, maternal anger-out with partners and maternal anger-control with students (negative β weight). Student relationship anger-control was predicted by paternal anger-control with partners, maternal anger-control with students, and paternal anger toward the student (negative β weight). Findings added to the growing body of literature which highlights the importance of parental behavior as a model for children regarding how anger is experienced and expressed in various environments. Specifically, findings suggested that the anger and anger expression children observe in both their parents' intimate relationships and in the parent-child relationship is related to their later experience and expression of anger in their adult partnered relationships. Findings were also consistent with research to date on the effects of parental conflict and anger on childhood development which suggests that the gender of the parent and the child may differentially influence the effect of such observational learning or socialization.