Interpersonal conflict: Effects of variations in manner of expressing anger and justification for anger upon perceptions of appropriateness, competence, and satisfaction

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Abstract
Using a 3x3 factorial design, nine scenarios were developed in which a spouse had either a strong, moderate, or weak justification for becoming angry at a subject who was instructed to assume the role of the other spouse. In each senario, the spouse confronted the subject and expressed anger in one of three ways: assertively, aggressively, or non‐assertively. Subjects responded to the spouse's expression of anger on scales measuring perceptions of appropriateness, competence, and satisfaction. Findings contradicted conventional wisdom and research findings on assertive communication. Implications of the results along with suggestions for future research were offered.