Differentiating Anger and Resentment: Implications for Forgiveness and Psychological Distress

Abstract

In recent years, forgiveness interventions have been widely and effectively used to help people exposed to a diverse array of unpleasant, traumatic experiences. Theoretical underpinnings of these interventions emphasise the distinction between anger and resentment and a primary goal of treatment is the relinquishing of long-lasting, lingering feelings of resentment. Empirical evidence of distinctions between anger and resentment is sparse, however. The present research was designed to redress this situation by exploring the phenomenological characteristics of anger and resentment. Across a series of three studies, participants recalled autobiographical memories of personal, real-life anger and resentment experiences and the two emotions were compared on several emotion components; namely, eliciting situations, subjective feelings, emotivational goals, action tendencies or urges, sensations, cognitions, and behaviours.