Two experiments examined the relation between anger and two different forms of aggression, as a function of target gender. Because social norms discourage aggression toward women, men should restrain overt aggression toward women despite their anger. However, because covert aggression minimizes the risk of accountability and social condemnation, covert aggression and anger should be directly
... [Show full abstract] related, irrespective of target gender. In both experiments, male undergraduates were provoked or treated neutrally by an alleged male or female interaction partner. The first experiment measured covert aggression. The second experiment included both covert and overt measures of aggression. Anger and covert aggression were related directly regardless of the target's gender, but anger and overt aggression were related directly for male targets but not female targets. Implications for covert and overt aggression in more naturalistic settings are discussed.