Thomas S, Smucker C, Droppleman P
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.
J Adv Nurs. 1998 Aug;28(2):311-22. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.1998.00785.x.
Women's anger experience has been poorly understood and insufficiently researched. Yet the emotion of anger is vitally important to women's physical and mental health, and to the quality of their relationships. This phenomenological study was undertaken as an expansion and extension of the Women's Anger Study, the first large survey of the genesis, manifestations and correlates of anger in American women. Although the earlier study contributed to understanding of anger, a deeper examination of the context and meanings of anger experience was sought. Twenty-nine Caucasian women ranging in age from 21 to 66 years were interviewed. Illustrative occupations ranged from homemaker, student, waitress to business executive, professor, and human service professional. Analysis involved thematizing by the researchers independently and within a multidisciplinary phenomenological research group. The thematic structure of women's anger involved a building over time of a confusing mixture of feelings (hurt, frustration, disillusionment) precipitated by a violation of the core values of the self. The precipitant of anger was unfair and/or disrespectful treatment or lack of reciprocity in relationships. When the anger was confined within self, the woman felt helpless and powerless. However, powerlessness was also evident when anger was externalized in an outburst. To the study participants, an angry outburst meant a loss of control rather than ability to achieve control. Women reported a sense of power when using anger to restore justice, respect, and relationship reciprocity. Clinicians can assist women to reflect on their core values and use the power of their anger effectively. Further studies are in progress to examine the relevance of these findings for women of other races and cultural contexts.
女性的愤怒体验一直未得到充分理解和研究。然而，愤怒情绪对女性的身心健康及其人际关系质量至关重要。这项现象学研究是作为“女性愤怒研究”的扩展和延伸而开展的，“女性愤怒研究”是对美国女性愤怒的起源、表现及相关因素进行的首次大规模调查。尽管早期研究有助于对愤怒的理解，但仍需要对愤怒体验的背景和意义进行更深入的考察。研究人员对29名年龄在21岁至66岁之间的白人女性进行了访谈。她们的职业多种多样，从家庭主妇、学生、女服务员到企业高管、教授和人类服务专业人员。分析包括研究人员独立以及在一个多学科现象学研究小组内进行的主题化。女性愤怒的主题结构涉及随着时间的推移，由自我核心价值观的 violated 所引发的各种情感（伤害、挫折、幻灭）的混乱混合。愤怒的 precipitant 是人际关系中不公平和/或不尊重的对待或缺乏 reciprocity。当愤怒被限制在自我内部时，女性会感到无助和无力。然而，当愤怒以爆发的形式 externalized 时，无力感也很明显。对研究参与者来说，愤怒的爆发意味着失去控制，而不是获得控制的能力。女性报告说，当用愤怒来恢复正义、尊重和关系 reciprocity 时，会有一种力量感。临床医生可以帮助女性反思她们的核心价值观，并有效地利用她们愤怒的力量。进一步的研究正在进行中，以检验这些发现对其他种族和文化背景女性的相关性。
