This exploratory study examined children's sense of control as a cognitive and perceptual context for responding to the expression of interadult anger. Children's cardiovascular, electrodermal, and self-reported emotional responses to the angry interaction of adults were measured. Perceptions of control were manipulated in two ways: by giving children the option of terminating an angry interaction by pushing an escape button and by describing an intervention strategy for angry people to use. Participants were 43 preschool children and their mothers. Findings revealed that differences in perceived control were related to differences in children's cardiovascular, electrodermal, and self-reported emotional responses to interadult anger and resolution. The introduction of control may have increased distress in children. It is also possible that giving children a sense of control aroused them and that not giving children control increased a sense of helplessness about the situation. It is pointed out that given the relatively small changes observed in heart rate and skin conductance response and level, the clinical significance of the findings should be interpreted with caution. Cited are 30 references. (RH)