Anger Expression in the Picture-Frustration Study Under Stressful Conditions

Abstract

In order to study anger expression in health and illness, the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration study was administered to hospitalized depressives, parents of seriously ill children, and healthy controls. A follow-up study then compared responses of acutely and chronically ill adults. Externally directed aggression was lower in people experiencing more severe stress, and was negatively correlated with external locus of control and with depression. It is suggested that within limits outer-direction of blame for frustration may characterize unstressed, well-adjusted people, and that further research with the Rosenzweig in relation to assertion training would be valuable.