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The Impact of Masculinity on Anger Arousal in Ambiguous Situations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2014

Michelle Wharton ,
Andrew Day ,
Philip Mohr ,
Adam Gerace  and
Kevin Howells
Michelle Wharton
Affiliation:
University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Andrew Day*
Affiliation:
Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Philip Mohr
Affiliation:
The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Adam Gerace
Affiliation:
Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Kevin Howells
Affiliation:
Nottingham University, Duncan MacMillan House, Porchester Road, Nottingham NG3 6AA, UK
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Andrew Day, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, Geelong VIC 3320, Australia. Email: andrew.day@deakin.edu.au
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Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence of sex and gender role identity on anger experience at varying levels of provocation in a sample of 585 Australian students. Participants viewed videotaped vignettes of a potentially anger-triggering event where the intent of another person was either ambiguous or unambiguous. Measures of self-predicted anger, trait anger, and gender role identity were then completed. Results supported the hypothesis that it is gender role identity rather than sex that is more closely related to angry emotion. There was, however, no support for the hypothesis that anger arousal would be greater in circumstances in which the intention behind a provoking event is ambiguous when the respondent identifies with a masculine gender role. The implications of these findings for the development of anger management programs are discussed.

Keywords

angergendergender role identityambiguity
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 5 , 2014 , e1
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Australian Academic Press Pty Ltd 2014 

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