Toward a new conceptualization of women's anger

Most theorizing about women's anger has been based on cases of troubled women who sought psychotherapy. However, theories derived from clinical practice have subsequently been phrased in terms of women in general, with no disclaimer regarding their origin. Empirical evidence refutes many widely accepted assumptions and theories about women's anger. In this article, the hydraulic model of emotion is rejected, and existential and cognitive-behavioral theories are used as the basis for a new middle-range theory of women's anger. Both trait anger (general propensity to become angry) and modes of anger expression are included in the model. Appraisal concepts, modifying factors, and outcome variables are described. The model awaits use by clinicians and validation by researchers in the 1990s.