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Protocol - Aggression and Hostility

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Description

The Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) consists of 29 self-administered items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The BPAQ includes four subscales: Physical Aggression (items 1-9), Verbal Aggression (items 10-14), Anger (items 15-21), and Hostility (items 22-29.)

The score for each scale is the sum or the ratings for its items. The two items (7 and 18) worded in the direction opposite to aggression are reverse-scored. The total score for aggression is the sum of these scale scores. Higher scores indicate higher aggressive behavior.

Specific Instructions

The authors (Buss & Perry, 1992) recommend that investigators "scramble the items so that items from any one factor do not pile up."

Availability

Available

Protocol

Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire

Please rate each of the following items in terms of how characteristic they are of you.

1. Once in a while I can’t control the urge to strike another person.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

2. Given enough provocation, I may hit another person.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

3. If somebody hits me, I hit back.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

4. I get into fights a little more than the average person.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

5. If I have to resort to violence to protect my rights, I will.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

6. There are people who pushed me so far that we came to blows.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

7. I can think of no good reason for ever hitting a person (R).

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

8. I have threatened people I know.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

9. I have become so mad that I have broken things.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

10. I tell my friends openly when I disagree with them.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

11. I often find myself disagreeing with people.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

12. When people annoy me, I may tell them what I think of them.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

13. I can’t help getting into arguments when people disagree with me.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

14. My friends say that I’m somewhat argumentative.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

15. I flare up quickly but get over it quickly.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

16. When frustrated, I let my irritation show.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

17. I sometimes feel like a powder keg ready to explode.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

18. I am an even-tempered person (R).

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

19. Some of my friends think I’m a hothead.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

20. Sometimes I fly off the handle for no good reason.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

21. I have trouble controlling my temper.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

22. I am sometimes eaten up with jealousy.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

23. At times I feel I have gotten a raw deal out of life.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

24. Other people always seem to get the breaks.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

25. I wonder why sometimes I feel so bitter about things.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

26. I know that "friends" talk about me behind my back.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

27. I am suspicious of overly friendly strangers.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

28. I sometimes feel that people are laughing at me behind me back.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

29. When people are especially nice, I wonder what they want.

1[ ]Extremely uncharacteristic

2[ ]Somewhat uncharacteristic

3[ ]Neither uncharacteristic nor characteristic

4[ ]Somewhat characteristic

5[ ]Extremely characteristic

Scoring:

Physical Aggression subscale: items 1-9.

Verbal Aggression subscale: items 10-14.

Anger subscale: items 15-21.

Hostility subscale: items 22-29.

The score for each scale is the sum or the ratings for its items. The two items (7 and 18) worded in the direction opposite to aggression are reverse-scored. The total score for aggression is the sum of these scale scores. Higher scores indicate higher aggressive behavior.

Personnel and Training Required

None

Equipment Needs

None

Requirements
Requirement CategoryRequired
Major equipment No
Specialized training No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual No
Mode of Administration

Self-administered questionnaire

Lifestage

Adolescent, Adult

Participants

Adolescents and adults, ages 12 and older

Selection Rationale

The Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) is a widely used, low-burden questionnaire that is considered as the gold standard measurement of aggression. The BPAQ has internal and test-retest reliability, strong convergent validity, and is appropriate for both adolescents and adults. The BPAQ is a revision of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, which was a widely used, well-validated aggression questionnaire.

Language

English

Standards
StandardNameIDSource
Human Phenotype Ontology Aggressive Behavior HP:0000718 HPO
Human Phenotype Ontology Hostility HP:0031473 HPO
caDSR Form PhenX PX640701 - Agression And Hostility 6234052 caDSR Form
Derived Variables

None

Process and Review

Not applicable.

Protocol Name from Source

The Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ)

Source

Buss, A. H., & Perry, M. (1992). The Aggression Questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(3), 452-459.

General References

Bridge, J. A., McBee-Strayer, S. M., Cannon, E. A., Sheftall, A. H., Reynolds, B., Campo, J. V., Pajer, K. A., Barbe, R. P., & Brent, D. A. (2012). Impaired decision-making in adolescent suicide attempters. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(4), 394-403.

Doihara, C., Kawanishi. C., Yamada, T., Sato, R., Hasegawa, H., Furuno, T., Nakagawa, M., & Hirayasu Y. (2008). Trait aggression in suicide attempters: A pilot study. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 62(3), 352-354.

Dougherty, D. M., Mathias, C. W., Marsh, D. M., Papageorgiou, T. D., Swann, A. C., & Moeller, G. F. (2004). Laboratory measured behavioral impulsivity relates to suicide attempt history. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 34(4), 374-385.

Gerevich, J., Bacskal, E., & Czobor, P. (2007). The generalizability of the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research 16(3), 124-136.

Protocol ID

640701

Variables
Export Variables
Variable Name Variable IDVariable DescriptiondbGaP Mapping
PX640701_Aggression_Arguments_Disagree
PX640701011300 I can't help getting into arguments when more
people disagree with me. show less
N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Get_Into_Fights
PX640701010400 I get into fights a little more than the more
average person. show less
N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Hit_Back
PX640701010300 If somebody hits me, I hit back. N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Mad_Broken_Things
PX640701010900 I have become so mad that I have broken things. N/A
PX640701_Aggression_No_Reason_ToHIt
PX640701010700 I can think of no good reason for ever more
hitting a person (R). show less
N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Often_Disagreeeing
PX640701011100 I often find myself disagreeing with people. N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Openly_Disagree
PX640701011000 I tell my friends openly when I disagree more
with them. show less
N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Provocation_Hit
PX640701010200 Given enough provocation, I may hit another more
person. show less
N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Pushed_To_Blows
PX640701010600 There are people who pushed me so far that more
we came to blows. show less
N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Resort_ToViolence
PX640701010500 If I have to resort to violence to protect more
my rights, I will. show less
N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Score
PX640701013000 Physical Aggression subscale: items more
1–9. Verbal Aggression subscale: items 10–14. Anger subscale: items 15–21. Hostility subscale: items 22–29. The score for each scale is the sum or the ratings for its items. The two items (7 and 18) worded show less
N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Tell_What_Ithink
PX640701011200 When people annoy me, I may tell them what I more
think of them. show less
N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Threatened_People
PX640701010800 I have threatened people I know. N/A
PX640701_Aggression_Urge_ToStrike
PX640701010100 Once in a while I can't control the urge to more
strike another person. show less
N/A
PX640701_Anger_Argumentative
PX640701011400 My friends say that I'm somewhat argumentative. N/A
PX640701_Anger_Even_Tempered
PX640701011800 I am an even-tempered person ® N/A
PX640701_Anger_Feel_Ready_ToExplode
PX640701011700 I sometimes feel like a powder keg ready to more
explode. show less
N/A
PX640701_Anger_Flare_Up_Quickly
PX640701011500 I flare up quickly but get over it quickly. N/A
PX640701_Anger_Fly_Off_Handle
PX640701012000 Sometimes I fly off the handle for no good reason. N/A
PX640701_Anger_Frustrated_Show_Irritation
PX640701011600 When frustrated, I let my irritation show. N/A
PX640701_Anger_Hothead
PX640701011900 Some of my friends think I'm a hothead. N/A
PX640701_HostilityBitter
PX640701012500 I wonder why sometimes I feel so bitter more
about things. show less
N/A
PX640701_Hostility_Friends_Talk_AboutMe
PX640701012600 I know that friends talk about me behind my back. N/A
PX640701_Hostility_Others_Get_Breaks
PX640701012400 Other people always seem to get the breaks. N/A
PX640701_Hostility_People_Laughing_AtMe
PX640701012800 I sometimes feel that people are laughing at more
me behind me back. show less
N/A
PX640701_Hostility_People_Nice_Iwonder
PX640701012900 When people are especially nice, I wonder more
what they want. show less
N/A
PX640701_Hostility_Raw_Deal_OfLife
PX640701012300 At times I feel I have gotten a raw deal out more
of life. show less
N/A
PX640701_Hostility_Sometimes_Jealous
PX640701012200 I am sometimes eaten up with jealousy. N/A
PX640701_Hostility_Suspicious_Of_Strangers
PX640701012700 I am suspicious of overly friendly strangers. N/A
PX640701_Hostility_Trouble_Controlling_Temper
PX640701012100 I have trouble controlling my temper. N/A
Suicide
Measure Name

Aggression and Hostility

Release Date

November 21, 2014

Definition

A questionnaire that measures the personality trait of aggression.

Purpose

Aggression is a multifaceted construct reflecting a range of verbal, emotional, and physical behaviors that can result in physical or psychological harm, typically consisting of expressions of anger or hostility, assertions of dominance, and/or intimidation. Aggression is related to suicidal behavior and may be useful for distinguishing attempters from nonattempters. Aggression is also a risk factor for crime, violence, and substance abuse.

Keywords

aggression, Hostility, violence, Temper, anger, Verbal aggression, Physical aggression

Measure Protocols
Protocol ID Protocol Name
640701 Aggression and Hostility
Publications

Pink, J., et al. (2022) Refining the relationship between psychopathy, aggression, and rule-breaking by gender: A comparison of the triarchic and septarchic models of psychopathy. Personality and Individual Differences. 2022 February; 185: 111282. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111282

Goodman, M., et al. (2020) Group (?Project Life Force?) versus individual suicide safety planning: A randomized clinical trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications. 2020 January; 17: 100520. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2020.100520