Keeping Quiet: Factors that Hinder Anger Expression at Work

dc.contributor.authorStickney, Lisa T.
dc.contributor.authorGeddes, Deanna
dc.date.accessioned2017-09-19T19:30:41Z
dc.date.available2017-09-19T19:30:41Z
dc.date.issued2011-07
dc.description.abstractMore research is emerging that finds workplace anger expression (versus suppression) is more likely to promote positive individual and organizational outcomes. However, many angry employees at work choose to remain silent rather than express their anger. What factors contribute most to this decision? Using content and factor analysis, we identify three key categories of factors that hinder anger expression at work, most to least frequent, respectively: professional courtesy, fear of repercussions, and organizational norms. We argue that rather than self-focused concerns of retaliation or sanctioning, most people fail to speak up when angry because of perceptions that “professionals” do not express anger, or the concern that anger expression shows a lack of respect for fellow organizational members. Although this is admirable in its other-oriented (versus self-centered) focus, there is a false assumption that keeping one’s anger and concerns hidden about a problematic workplace situation is helpful for the organization. Management can play a key role in changing social norms to allow for honest and helpful expressions of anger by employees without fear of appearing unprofessional or receiving organizational sanctions.en_US
dc.format.extent8 pagesen_US
dc.genreconference papers and proceedingsen_US
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/M2319S344
dc.identifier.citationStickney, Lisa T. and Geddes, Deanna, Keeping Quiet: Factors that Hinder Anger Expression at Work (June, 24 2011). IACM 24TH Annual Conference Paper, 1-8.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/5409
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherInternational Association of Conflict Management 24th Annual Conference Proceedingsen_US
dc.relation.isAvailableAtUniversity of Baltimore
dc.subjectanger at worken_US
dc.subjectanger expressionsen_US
dc.subjectexpressed angeren_US
dc.subjectworkplace angeren_US
dc.titleKeeping Quiet: Factors that Hinder Anger Expression at Worken_US
dc.typeTexten_US

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