Anger and Related Emotions

Theorists and clinicians are not always clear in distinguishing anger from hostility and aggression, sometimes using the terms interchangeably. Given the confusion that prevails in much of the literature, Thomas (1993c) maintains the importance of establishing such distinctions. Thomas defines anger as "a strong feeling of distress or displeasure in response to a specific provocation of some kind", as distinct from hostility, which "implies a more pervasive and enduring antagonistic mental attitude". Person (1993) agrees, citing hostile behaviour as anger either previously unexpressed or anger that had been expressed and had failed to effect a desired change. Aggression is distinct from anger in being defined as "any behavior directed toward another person (or a person's property) with the intent to do harm, even if the aggressor was unsuccessful" (White & Kowalski, 1994, p. 487). Thomas (1993c) contends theorists error in placing anger and aggression on a continuum, implying that if anger remains unchecked it will escalate to aggressive acts. This assumption ignores the fact that "aggressive behavior can exist in the absence of anger and vice versa" (p.13; Lewis, 1993; Person, 1993). The definition Campbell (1993) puts forth recognizes the continuum that Thomas rejects. Campbell traces a chronology of women's aggression that begins with anger, initially accompanied by restraint and self control, moves through a mounting frustration if the provocation continues, and erupts in aggression when the frustration becomes intolerable. She thus views women's aggression as emerging from "their inability to check the disruptive and frightening force of their own anger" (p. 1). Thomas, whose study was conducted concurrently with Campbell's work, maintains research evidence does not substantiate this view.