The Influence of Core Self-Evaluation, Rumination, and Forgiveness on the Experience and Expression of Anger

Core self-evaluation (CSE) has demonstrated a role in emotional distress, with rumination and forgiveness mediating this. This paper aimed to extend on such research by exploring the relationships that CSE, rumination, and forgiveness have with state and trait anger, and with the expression and control of anger. Participants (N = 193) completed an online survey measuring CSE, rumination, forgiveness, and their experiences and expression of anger. The analysis demonstrated that CSE was negatively correlated with state anger, trait anger, outward expressions of anger, and internalised expressions of anger. It was positively correlated with efforts to control external demonstrations of anger and to internally control the experience of anger. Rumination and forgiveness were subsequently found to provide full and serial mediation of the relationships that CSE demonstrated with state anger, trait anger, and the internalised expression of anger. Only rumination mediated the relationship between CSE and the external expression of anger. Rumination did not directly influence the positive relationships between CSE and both forms of anger control. These findings provide further insight into the beliefs and cognitive processes that influence an individual’s experiences of anger, their expression of anger, and their efforts to control anger. They also have implications for how interventions targeting CSE, rumination, and forgiveness may be used in related treatment.