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Multigenerational Patterns of Women's Anger
by Sally D. Stabb, Ph.D.
Women from either two or three generations in five different families were interviewed to explore multigenerational patterns in women's anger expression, diversion, and socialization. An in-depth, semi-structured interview format, which included the construction of a genogram to facilitate illustration of patterns, was the primary method of data collection. Using transcripts of the interviews, with-in case summaries were developed for each family. Each family presented a unique and nuanced picture of the patterns of anger expression, diversion, and socialization within their families. While there was no single pattern that cut across all families, each family itself contained identifiable trends in women's anger.
There was support for the idea of multigenerational transmission of anger patterns, with two broad trends evident. The first trend was one in which each generation paralleled the previous one (i.e. three generations of suppressing anger). The second trend was one in which generations alternated; strong (sometimes to abusive levels) expression in one generation was followed by suppression in the next generation, which was followed by the re-emergence of open expression in the third generation.
While there were some clear examples of the adaptive use of anger by the women we interviewed, many women remained unable to articulate anything positive about anger. Some women had never thought about their anger as useful until the research interview, during which time they recognized that they had made important life decisions as a result of their anger. Using the genogram during the interviews was helpful to participants in seeing anger patterns clearly, and facilitated discussion.
Many women received mixed messages about anger in their families, and/or saw variations in how different women in their families processed anger. Thus, many remain undecided and unclear about their own experience and expression of anger. A Diversity of Voices: Minority Women Speak about Anger
by Sally D. Stabb, Ph.D. and Karin H. Bruckner, M.A., L.P.C.
Click here for the research findings. Gender, Anger Expression, and Instrumentality in a sample of Professionals
by Deborah L. Cox Southwest Missouri State University
Click here for the research findings.
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