The Anger Research Center is currently studying the relation between sexual orientation and romantic partner anger.
The Anger Research Center At St. John’s University is currently conducting research on anger in romantic relationships.
The researchers are looking in particular for participation from within the LGBT community. All participants must be at least 18 years old.
This research involves the development of a Romantic Partners Anger Scale (RPAS), which measures a person’s specific anger at their partner.
Past findings have shown that many people who participate in anger treatment, even court-mandated treatment, do not obtain high scores on general anger measures such as the Anger Disorders Scale, which influenced the RPAS.
During treatment, psychologists have found that members of anger treatment groups are not generally angry people but rather have anger towards a specific person in their life, most often their significant other.
Prior analysis have shown that the RPAS correlates with age and gender. This means that younger people had a significantly higher romantic partner anger scores. This analysis also displayed that people with higher scores on general anger measures had significantly higher romantic partner anger scores.
These results suggest that there is need for further research in this area. In order for the team to complete their research, they want to acquire a larger and more diversified sample in terms of age and sexual orientation.
Currently, the researchers are exploring the relation between sexual orientation and romantic partner anger. Preliminary analysis have revealed significant differences in scores between men and women in same-sex relationships and men and women in opposite-sex relationships. While the findings see varying levels of anger towards a partner, all four groups showed no significant difference in satisfaction with the relationship.
Gaining more participants will help increase statistical power that can be used to find a clearer pattern between the results and will allow the researchers to take a closer look at the individual characteristics that contribute to the results.
You can participate in the survey by clicking here
Learn more about the Anger Research Center