Which attitudinal measures predict trait aggression?

The association between four measures of trait aggression (the Aggression Questionnaire, AQ) and (1) instrumental (1) and expressive (E) beliefs about aggression, (2) attitudes to aggression (semantic differentials), and (3) normative beliefs about aggression, was investigated in a sample of 165 British students. I and E beliefs were weakly associated with the other attitudinal measures. Physical aggression was predicted mainly by I beliefs and not by attitudes or normative beliefs. The strongest predictors of verbal aggression were higher I and lower E beliefs. Anger was associated with I beliefs. Hostility was associated with both I and E beliefs. Men and women showed some differences in the attitudinal predictors of trait aggression. Men showed higher values than women for I beliefs and physical aggression, and women showed higher values than men for E beliefs and for potency on the semantic differential when rating aggression and argument. Several of the measures showed a slight decline with age. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.