Fighting Fair: Gender Differences in Levels of Androgyny as Reflected in Styles of Expression of Anger in Marital Relationships

Anger is a manifestation of pain that forces humans to summon and expend energy, often inefficiently. In real terms, anger hurts. Mindful and constructive self-expression can help relieve pain, strengthen relationships, and improve personal health. Mindless anger expression can lead to not only physical aggression and injury, but to difficulties including blocking healthy communication, damaged or lost relationships, legal problems, or physical health impairments. In intimate relationships, people will inevitably disagree. This is normal and healthy. The study described in this book looked at the positive and destructive ways that men and women argue, which is often far from healthy or good for either partner. Aiming to assist individuals and couples learn to manage and cope with anger in a way that ends well for both, this study of married couples examined differences and how they related to masculine, feminine, and androgynous gender roles constructed by a patriarchal society. Tom Rue completed his Masters in counseling at Rider University in 1985; and a Bachelors in psychology (honors) at the College of New Jersey in 1983. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor in private practice in Monticello, New York, with his wife Carmen Rue as office manager. After more than a quarter century in clinical practice, he based this 2011 publication on a graduate thesis written in 1985.