The outward expression of anger, the inward experience of anger and CVR: the role of vocal expression.
Two hypotheses were tested: (1) that only the outward expression of anger, not its mere experience, is associated with heightened cardiovascular reactivity; and (2) that the discussion of anger-arousing experiences in a mood incongruent speech style (soft and slow) attenuates the subjective experience of anger and its cardiovascular correlates. Each of 24 subjects participated in three experimental conditions: (1) Anger-out, in which previously experienced anger-arousing events were described loudly and quickly; (2) Anger-in, in which anger-arousing events were relived inwardly, in subject's imagination; and (3) mood-incongruent speech, in which anger-arousing events were described softly and slowly. Only the Anger-out condition was associated with high cardiovascular reactivity levels. The Anger-in and the mood-incongruent conditions were associated with near-zero and very low reactivity levels, respectively. Subjective anger ratings were highest in the Anger-out condition, moderate in the Anger-in condition, and lowest (not angry) in the mood-incongruent condition. All differences were significant. These findings suggest that the full-blown expression of anger, in all of its paraverbal intensity, is pathogenic and that the mere inner experience of anger is not.
Siegman
A W
AW
University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Catonsville 21228, USA.
Snow
S C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000786:Anger / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D019260:Expressed Emotion / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D011582:Psychological Theory