Abstract
Family serves as an important mechanism for care and support, and it may also create the basis for psychological problems. Anger and aggression experienced within the family context can be harmful to an individual, which may have effects throughout one’s life. Family conflict may arise from repetitive anger and aggression in the family environment. Individual characteristics, the specific relationship between individuals, and the roles taken in a family are important contributors for anger to arise. Developmentally, how anger is expressed in a child’s family is an important factor. The expression of anger is related to psychological disorders, especially depression, among adolescents.
Anger affects both children and parents in the family context. Children’s anger-related behaviors may be related to marital conflict and parental behaviors. Besides, when the child observes a way of expressing emotions like anger from parents, they are likely to express their own emotions in the same way, which may also lead to violent actions. Anger is also a frequent emotion considering the co-parenting of divorced parents. Despite all these negative effects, family is one of the most important mechanisms that support an individual’s life in many ways.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- CCV:
-
Coercive controlling violence
- IPV:
-
Intimate partner violence
- MANOVA:
-
Multivariate analysis of variance
- PTSD:
-
Post-traumatic stress disorder
References
Avci R, Gucray SS (2010) An investigation of violent and nonviolent adolescents’ family functioning, problems concerning family members, anger and anger expression. Educ Sci Theory Pract 10(1):65–76
Baron RA, Richardson DR (1994) Human aggression, 2nd edn. Plenum Press, New York
Barry RA, Kochanska G (2010) A longitudinal investigation of the affective environment in families with young children: from infancy to early school age. Emotion 10(2):237–249. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018485
Benson MJ, Buehler C, Gerard JM (2008) Interparental hostility and early adolescent p problem behavior: spillover via maternal acceptance, harshness, inconsistency, and intrusiveness. J Early Adolesc 28:428–454. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431608316602
Borum R (2000) Assessing violence risk among youth. J Clin Psychol 56:1263–1288
Boxer P, Tisak MS (2005) Children’s beliefs about the continuity of aggression. Aggress Behav 31:172–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.20056
Budak S (2000) Psikoloji sozlugu. Bilim ve Sanat Yayınlari, Ankara
Carpenter S, Halberstadt AG (2000) Mothers’ reports of events causing anger differ across family relationships. Soc Dev 9:458–477. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9507.00138
Chu C, Buchman-Schmitt JM, Joiner TE, Rudd MD (2017) Personality disorder symptoms and suicidality: low desire and high plans for suicide in military inpatients and outpatients. J Pers Disord 31:145–155. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi_2016_30_241
Clark TR, Phares V (2004) Feelings in the family: Interparental conflict, anger, and expressiveness in families with older adolescents. Fam J 12:129–138. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480703261961
Colapinto JA (1995) Dilution of family process in social services: implications for treatment of neglectful families. Fam Process 34(1):59–74. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.1995.00059.x
Coley RL (2003) Daughter-father relationships and adolescent psychosocial functioning in low-income African American families. J Marriage Fam 65(4):867–875. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2003.00867.x
Conner K, Duberstein P, Conwell Y, Caine E (2003) Reactive aggression and suicide: theory and evidence Aggress. Violent Behav 8:413–432. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-1789(02)00067-8
Cook WL, Kenny DA, Goldstein MJ (1991) Parental affective style risk and the family system: a social relations model analysis. J Abnorm Psychol 100:492–501
Cox MJ, Paley B (1997) Families as systems. Ann Rev Psychol 48:243–267. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.48.1.243
Cummings EM, Davies PT (1992) Parental depression, family functioning, and child adjustment: risk factors, processes, and pathways. In: Cicchetti D, Toth S (eds) Rochester symposium on developmental psychopathology, Vol 4: A developmental approach to the affective disorders. University of Rochester Press, Rochester, pp 283–322
Cummings EM, Ballard M, El-Sheikh M (1991) Responses of children and adolescents to interadult anger as a function of gender, age, and mode of expression. Merrill-Palmer Q 37:543–560
Daff ES, Gilbert F, Daffern M (2014) The relationship between anger and aggressive script rehearsal in an offender population. Psychiatry Psychol Law 22:731–739. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2014.986837
DeBeer BB, Kimbrel NA, Meyer EC, Gulliver SB, Morissette SB (2014) Combined PTSD and depressive symptoms interact with post-deployment social support to predict suicidal ideation in operation enduring freedom and operation Iraqi freedom veterans. Psychiatry Res 216:357–362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2014.02.010
Eichelsheim VI, Buist KL, Dekovic M, Cook WL, Manders W, Branje SJT, Frijns T, Van Lier PAC, Koot HM, Meeus WHJ (2011) Brief report: negativity in problematic and non-problematic families: a multigroup social relations model analysis with structured means. J Fam Psychol 25:152–156
Erdiller ZB (2003) Little witnesses, secret wounds: issues in education. J Early Educ Fam Rev 10(4):13–21
Ersan C (2020) Physical aggression, relational aggression and anger in preschool children: the mediating role of emotion regulation. J Gen Psychol 147(1):18–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221309.2019.1609897
Espelage DL, Holt MK, Henkel RR (2003) Examination of peer-group contextual effects on aggression during early adolescence. Child Dev 74:205–220
Fanning JR, Lee R, Coccaro EF (2016) Comorbid intermittent explosive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: clinical correlates and relationship to suicidal behavior Compr. Psychiatr 70:125–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.05.018
Feinberg ME (2003) The internal structure and ecological context of coparenting: a framework for research and intervention. Parent Sci Pract 3(2):95–131. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327922PAR0302_01
Field T (2002) Violence and touch deprivation in adolescents. Adolescence 37:735–746
Geen RG, Donnerstein E (eds) (1998) Human aggression: theories, research, and implications for social policy. Academic Press, San Diego
Halberstadt AG, Beale KS, Meade AW, Craig AB, Parker AE (2015) Anger in families: individual and dyadic contributions. J Soc Pers Relat 32(6):810–828
Hardesty JL, Crossman KA, Khaw L, Raffaelli M (2016) Marital violence and coparenting quality after separation. J Fam Psychol 30(3):320–330. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000132
Horwitz BN, Ganiban JM, Spotts EL, Lichtenstein P, Reiss D, Neiderhiser JM (2011) The role of aggressive personality and family relationships in explaining family conflict. J Fam Psychol J Div Fam Psychol Am Psychol Assoc Div 43 25(2):174–183. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023049
Huesmann LR, Guerra NG (1997) Children’s normative beliefs about aggression and aggressive behavior. J Pers Soc Psychol 72:408–419
Israel AC, Malatras JW, Wicks-Nelson R (2021) Abnormal child and adolescent psychology, 9th edn. Routledge, New York
Jackson J, Kuppens P, Sheeber LB, Allen NB (2011) Expression of anger in depressed adolescents: the role of the family environment. J Abnorm Child Psychol 39:463–474
James O (1995) Juvenile violence in a winner-loser culture. Free Association Books, New York
Jamison TB, Coleman M, Ganong LH, Feistman RE (2014) Transition to postdivorce family life: a grounded theory investigation of resilience in coparenting. Fam Relat 63:411–423. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12074
Kassinove H, Sukhodolsky DG, Tsytsarev SV, Solovyova S (1997) Self-reported anger episodes in Russia and America. J Soc Behav Pers 12(2):301–324
Kilpatrick AC, Holland TP (2006) Working with families: an integrative model by level of need. Pearson, Boston
Kinnunen U, Pulkkinen L (2003) Childhood socio-emotional characteristics as antecedents of marital stability and quality. Eur Psychol 8(4):223–237. https://doi.org/10.1027//1016-9040.8.4.223
Kitamura T, Hasui C (2006) Anger feelings and anger expression as a mediator of the effects of witnessing family violence on anxiety and depression in Japanese adolescents. J Interpers Violence 21(7):843–855
Klausli JF, Owen MT (2011) Exploring actor and partner effects in associations between marriage and parenting for mothers and fathers. Parent Sci Pract 11:264–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/15295192.2011.613723
Kökdemir H (2004) Ofke ve ofke kontrolu [Anger and anger control]. Pivolka 3(12):7–10
Koppejan-Luitze HS, van der Wal RC, Kluwer ES, Visser MM, Finkenauer C (2021) Are intense negative emotions a risk for complex divorces? An examination of the role of emotions in divorced parents and co-parenting concerns. J Soc Pers Relat 38(2):765–782. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407520972189
Kuppens P, Van Mechelen I, Meulders M (2004) Every cloud has a silver lining: interpersonal and individual differences determinants of anger-related behaviors. Personal Soc Psychol Bull 30:1550–1564. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167204271176
MacKenzie RJ (2014) Cocugunuza Sinir Koyma, 3rd edn. Yakamoz, Istanbul
Malakoutikhah A, Zakeri MA, Derakhtanjani AS, Dehghan M (2021) Anxiety, anger, and mindfulness as predictors of general health in the general population during COVID-19 outbreak: a survey in Southeast Iran. J Community Psychol 50:916–927. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22690
Mash EJ, Wolfe DA (2019) Abnormal child psychology, 7th edn. Cengage, Boston
Mcadams C, Foster V, Dotson-Blake K, Brendel J (2009) Dysfunctional family structures and aggression in children: a case for school-based, systemic approaches with violent students. J Sch Couns 7
Moos RH, Moos BS (1981) Family environmental scale manual. Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto
Mullan K, Higgins D (2014) A safe and supportive family environment for children: key components and links to child outcomes, Australian Institute of Family Studies, occasional paper no. 52. Australian Government Department of Social Services
Nichols MP, Schwartz RC (2006) Family therapy: concepts and methods, 7th edn. Pearson, Upper Saddle River
Onur B (2000) Gelisim psikolojisi: Yetiskinlik, yaslilik, olum. Imge, Ankara
Ormrod JE (2012) Human learning, 6th edn. Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River
Özmen SK (2004) Aile icinde ofke ve saldirganligin yansimalari. Ank Univ J Fac Educ Sci 37(2):27–39
Papp LM, Kouros CD, Cummings EM (2010) Emotions in marital conflict interactions: empathic accuracy, assumed similarity, and the moderating context of depressive symptoms. J Soc Pers Relat 27:367–387. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407509348810
Puskar K, Ren D, Bernardo LM (2008) Anger correlated with psychosocial variables in rural youth. Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs 31:71–87. https://doi.org/10.1080/01460860802023513
Ramsden SR, Hubbard JA (2002) Family expressiveness and parental emotion coaching: their role in children’s emotion regulation and aggression. J Abnorm Child Psychol 30(6):657–667. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020819915881
Ross CE, Van Willigen M (1996) Gender, parenthood, and anger. J Marriage Fam 58:572–584
Schaefer LM, Howell KH, Schwartz LE, Bottomley JS, Cossnine CB (2018) A concurrent examination of protective factors associated with resilience and posttraumatic growth following childhood victimization. Child Abuse Negl 85:17–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.08.019
Sears MS, Repetti RL, Renolds BM, Robles TF, Krull JL (2016) Spillover in the home: the effects of family conflict on parents’ behavior. J Marriage Fam 78:127–141. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12265
Sigfusdottir ID, Farkas G, Silver E (2004) The role of depressed mood and anger in the relationship between family conflict and delinquent behavior. J Youth Adolesc 33:509–522. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOYO.0000048065.17118.63
Smith Stover C, Beebe R, Clough M, DiVietro S, Madigan L, Grasso DJ (2022) Evaluation of a statewide implementation of fathers for change: a fathering intervention for families impacted by partner violence. J Fam Violence 37:449–459. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-020-00199-5
Strayer J, Roberts W (2004) Children’s anger, emotional expressiveness, and empathy: relations with parents’ empathy, emotional expressiveness, and parenting practices. Soc Dev 13(2):229–254
Tremblay RE (2008) Anger and aggression. In: Haith MM, Benson JB (eds) Encyclopedia of infant and early childhood development, vol 1, 2nd edn. Academic Press, Cambridge, pp 62–74
Wang D, Choi JK, Shin J, Reddish L (2021) Longitudinal effects of co-parenting for successful kids: using mixed-effects models. J Child Fam Stud 30:220–229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01866-3
Wilks CR, Morland LA, Dillon KH, Mackintosh MA, Blakey SM, Wagner HR, VA Mid- Atlantic MIRECC Workgroup, Elbogen EB (2019) Anger, social support, and suicide risk in U.S. military veterans. J Psychiatr Res 109:139–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.11.026
Wu Shortt J, Stoolmiller M, Smith-Shine JN, Eddy M, Sheeber L (2010) Maternal emotion coaching, adolescent anger regulation, and siblings’ externalizing symptoms. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 51:799–808. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02207.x
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Cure Acer, S. (2022). Anger and Aggression in Family Dynamics. In: Martin, C., Preedy, V.R., Patel, V.B. (eds) Handbook of Anger, Aggression, and Violence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98711-4_6-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98711-4_6-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-98711-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-98711-4
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences