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The authors conducted an analysis of anger scripts in close relationships from a relational schema perspective focusing on the interpersonal experience of anger and on the sequencing of anger events. The amount of anger elicited by various instigating events was found to differ for women and men. More important, there was evidence of an interpersonal script for anger. Reactions of angry people were predicated on anticipated partner responses. Gender differences in interpersonal scripts were found only when the angered person chose to react in a negative way (e.g., aggression). Women and men held similar scripts for anger when the angered person reacted in a prosocial manner. Implications of these findings for script analyses of emotion and for close relationships are discussed.Anger,similartoanyemotion,isacomplexandmultifaceted phenomenon. Abelson (1981) pointed out, A sizeable set of inferences can be made from the knowledge that, say, "John is angry." A negative thing has happened to John; he blames it on someone; he regards it as unjust; he is aroused, flushed, and prone to swear or lash out; he may seek revenge on the instigator, and so on" (p. 727).

The Underwood Report (12) drew attention to the need for some system of classification in child psychiatry. This paper presents the results of a statistical study which was undertaken as relevant to that general enquiry.

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