Abstract

Despite of tremendous time and efforts in the past, relationships between anger-in and high blood pressure have not been consistent in the previous findings. In this article, a comprehensive theoretical approach was attempted, aiming to put inconsistent findings of the past studies in order and to guide the new direction for the future studies. A conceptual and operational definition of hostility, aggression, and anger, which was distinctively different from each other, was first made. Also, the differentiation between anger experience and anger expression, and state and trait was recommended. An explaining model, which specifies the inter relationships among relevant constructs, came next. A new conceptual framework, which integrate anger-in and anger-out into the dysfunctional anger-expression or anger-coping style, was suggested and supportive research findings for this model were discussed.