Aggression Measuring

Since the design of experiments and methodologies employed in aggression
research is strongly influenced by the definitions adopted, it is important to start
with its description and that of other aggression-related constructs, because a
good profile of several personality traits may help to a better and more
comprehensive understanding of this behavior. However the reader should not
expect to find here a complete review of what has been said on the topic
included in the title. It would be too huge an undertaking for a brief review of this
nature. Instead this paper will first present a brief theoretical consideration of
the concepts of aggression and some other related psychological constructs. In
addition a short summary will be made of some empirical findings of a program
of research that, for over two decades, has been applying some self-report
techniques aimed at a better understanding of human aggression, in the belief
that it is associated to a distinctive personality style, as it has been quite
recently suggested (Houston & Stanford, 2005).
Our purpose thus is to present some information of how the different forms of
human aggression may be inter-related and related to psychological constructs,
such as anger, hostility, and impulsivity, on the understanding that a useful
framework would be of fundamental importance for improving research on
aggression and also important for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of its
abnormalities.
We are aware of the advantages of an interdisciplinary approach to aggression
research (including consideration of biology, behavior, and cognition), and the
need for its study in diverse populations. However, if we want to avoid multiple
possible confusing variables, it seems prudent to leave aside clinical and
marginal populations (e.g., psychiatric patients or prison inmates) initially, and
start instead with ‘normal’ subjects, with a relatively homogenous environment
and no significant...