Understanding Grudges: The Interplay Between Hurt Feelings and Anger

Abstract

Interpersonal transgressions are inevitable and pose threats to social bonds and well-being. For victims, holding a grudge is a common response. Recent qualitative work suggests that hurt and anger are central to grudges, yet their relation has not been tested quantitatively. Previous research has focused on the independent effects of hurt and anger, often overlooking their interaction. We predicted that the interaction between hurt and anger contributes to grudge holding. Across three nonexperimental studies and one experimental study (Studies 1-4), we examined how these emotions relate to grudge holding and tested a mechanism in Studies 3 and 4. Results consistently showed that individuals who felt high hurt and anger reported stronger grudges than those who felt only one emotion strongly. Perceiving the transgressor as immoral explained this interaction. This research advances our understanding of grudge holding by examining the interaction between these emotions and empirically testing the underlying theory.

Keywords: anger; grudge holding; hurt feelings; interpersonal conflict; moral judgment.