Researchers Identify Traits Linked to Aggressive Behavior

University of Missouri researchers have found that people with certain personality traits need little provocation to cause them to act out aggressively.

For their analysis, participants ranging from seven to 48 years old were monitored and exposed to varying degrees of provocative stimuli (verbal insults, electrical shocks) or neutral conditions.

Results showed that people with the characteristics trait irritability ("being angrier, in general,
and taking offense to the slightest provocation") and trait aggression ("a propensity to engage in physical and verbal aggression, to hold hostile cognitions, and to express anger") were more prone to respond aggressively under both provoking and neutral situations. Meanwhile the traits of narcissism, Type A personality, emotional susceptibility and a tendency to ruminate over feelings made participants more likely to act out, but only if first provoked.

Read more: Aggression can result from no provocation

STUDY: Personality and Aggressive Behavior Under Provoking and Neutral Conditions: A Meta-Analytic Review