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Barber, Thomas (2017) The forgotten emotion: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
into the lived experience of anger in young men. DProf thesis, Middlesex University.
Final accepted version (with author’s formatting)
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The Forgotten Emotion:
An Interpretative Phenomenological
Analysis into the Lived Experience of
Anger in Young Men.
Submitted to the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling and Middlesex
University Psychology Department in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
Degree of Doctor of Existential Counselling and Psychotherapy.
© Thomas Henry Barber
June 2016, London, United Kingdom
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Emmy van Deurzen and all the staff at NSPC for making it possible to
carry out research of this nature. Your unwavering belief in the existential torch is both heart-
warming and admirable.
I also extend my thanks to my supervisors, John Andrew Miller, and Joel Swaine for his
insightful and deeply considered feedback, and belief in me throughout this project.
Additionally I would like to thank Susan Ram and Linda Finlay for their invaluable support.
Most of all, I want to thank my wife Sandra, who has been a rock for me throughout all the
times I doubted I could ever get to the end of this project. She helped me begin my steep
learning curve through academia, persevered with me throughout my struggles, and raised me
up to more than I could see. It is an honour to love her, and be by her side on our journey
together.
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Abstract
This dissertation explores the lived experience of problematic anger in young men.
Qualitative phenomenological research was conducted using semi-structured interviews with
a sample of six male participants between the ages of 20-25 years. The accounts were
analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and three main themes were
identified. Theme one explores how anger initially stirs within the participants, impacting
their sense of agency and their bodily feelings and sensations. Theme two illuminates how
anger impacts the participant’s changing self-concept, a loss of awareness and control, and
the issue of responsibility for actions taken. Theme three highlights how the participants
attempt to regain control of themselves and return to a state of calm and composure. The
study seeks to contribute to the paucity of research into the lived-experience of anger in
young men. Findings suggest that anger is an intensely dynamic experience that unfolds with
an increasing impact on young men’s ability to retain control over their sense of self as
experienced in time, space, in their bodies and inter-relationally. The study recommends that
continued research be undertaken into anger through the lens of these four areas, often
referred to as the ‘existentials’.
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Keywords
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, IPA, Existential Phenomenology, Anger, Men.
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Statement of authorship
This dissertation is written by Thomas Henry Barber and has ethical clearance from the New
School of Psychotherapy and Counselling and the Psychology Department of Middlesex
University. It is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the New School of
Psychotherapy and Counselling and the Psychology Department of Middlesex University for
the Degree of Doctor of Existential Counselling and Psychotherapy. The author reports no
conflict of interest, and alone is responsible for the content and writing of the dissertation.
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Anonymisation and transcript conventions
The transcripts presented in this study were edited in order to preserve the anonymity and
confidentiality of participants. Participants’ descriptions of their experiences occasionally
include the use of profanity, which have been left intact as an accurate representation of the
idiographic content.
Transcript notation
… significant pause
[ ] material omitted
[laughs] additional material or my summary
Word count 50,035
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Table of contents
Acknowledgements 1
Abstract 2
Keywords 3
Statement of authorship 4
Anonymisation and transcript conventions 5
Chapter 1 Introduction 9
Chapter 2 Literature Review 15
2.1 Emotion 15
2.2 Towards a definition of anger 18
2.3 Historical perspectives on anger 21
2.4 Psychological perspectives on anger 24
2.4.1 Psychoanalytical perspectives 24
2.4.2 Cognitive Behavioural perspectives 25
2.5 Sociological perspectives on anger 29
2.5.1 Gender and age 30
2.5.2 Class 32
2.6 Existential phenomenological perspectives on anger 34
2.6.1 Existentialism 34
2.6.2 Phenomenology 35
2.7 Recent research on anger 39
2.7.1 Quantitative research 39
2.7.2 Qualitative research 41
2.8 Conclusion 50
2.9 Reflexive exploration 51
Chapter 3 Methodology 54
3.1 Aims 54
3.2 Epistemological position 55
3.2.1 A contextual constructionist epistemology 57
3.3 Phenomenology 59
3.4 Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis 61
3.4.1 Limitations of IPA 65
3.5 Alternative methodologies 68
3.5.1 Grounded theory 68
3.5.2 Discourse analysis 69
3.5.3 Narrative analysis 69
3.5.4 Descriptive Phenomenology 70
3.6 Reflexivity 71
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3.7 Issues of validity 76
3.7.1 Sensitivity to context 77
3.7.2 Commitment and rigour 78
3.7.3 Transparency and coherence 78
3.7.4 Impact and importance 79
3.7.5 Independent audit 79
3.8 Reflexive exploration 80
Chapter 4 Method 82
4.1 Design 82
4.2 Participants and sample 82
4.3 Research questions 84
4.4 Data collection 84
4.5 Data analysis 85
4.5.1 Stage 1: Reading and re-reading 86
4.5.2 Stage 2: Initial noting 86
4.5.3 Stage 3: Developing emergent themes 87
4.5.4 Stage 4: Searching for connections across emergent themes 87
4.5.5 Stage 5: Moving to the next case 88
4.5.6 Stage 6: Looking for patterns across cases 88
4.6 Presenting and discussing the findings 88
4.7 Ethical considerations 89
4.7.1 Openness and informed consent 89
4.7.2 Subjective interpretation and confidentiality 91
4.8 Reflexive exploration 92
Chapter 5 Findings 94
5.1 Being the participants 95
5.1.1 Being Adrian 95
5.1.2 Being Dean 97
5.1.3 Being Josh 98
5.1.4 Being Matthew 99
5.1.5 Being Ben 100
5.1.6 Being Kevin 101
5.2 Presentation of themes - An overview 102
5.3 Theme 1 - Anger stirring – The dynamic sensations 105
5.3.1 The Other and the Self 105
5.3.2 The visceral sensory experience of anger 108
5.4 Theme 2 - Anger unfolding – The transformation of self-awareness 111
5.4.1 The changing metaphorical Self 112
5.4.2 Loss of control and responsibility 113
5.5 Theme 3 - Anger directed – Re-establishing equanimity 117
5.5.1 Getting it out 118
5.5.2 Getting away 121
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5.6 Summary 123
5.7 Reflexive exploration 123
Chapter 6 Discussion 128
6.1 The findings in relation to the literature 128
6.1.1 Theme 1 - The Other and the Self 129
6.1.2 Theme 2 - The visceral sensory experience of anger 136
6.1.3 Theme 3 - The changing metaphorical Self 140
6.1.4 Theme 4 - Loss of control and responsibility 144
6.1.4.1 Loss of control 144
6.1.4.2 Responsibility 148
6.1.5 Theme 5 and 6 - Getting it out and getting away 149
6.2 Summary 154
6.3 Methodological considerations and critical reflections 155
6.3.1 Strengths and limitations 155
6.4 Validity and quality 162
6.4.1 Sensitivity to context 162
6.4.2 Commitment and rigour 162
6.4.3 Transparency and coherence 163
6.4.4 Impact and importance 163
6.5 Significance of the study and its implications for practice 163
6.6 Future research 169
6.7 Reflexive exploration 170
Chapter 7 Conclusion 173
7.1 Final thoughts 175
References 177
Appendices 197
Appendix 1 - Ethical Clearance 197
Appendix 2 - Risk Assessment 200
Appendix 3 - Participant Information Sheet 205
Appendix 4 - Consent Form 207
Appendix 5 - Interview Schedule 208
Appendix 6 - Debriefing Procedure 209
Appendix 7 - Developing Themes 210
Appendix 8 - Table of Emerging Themes for Individual Participants 213
Appendix 9 - Table of Superordinate and Subordinate Themes 233
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