Emotional and personality correlates of aggressive tendencies among high school students

In order to explore emotional and personality context of aggressive tendencies 147 high school students (17–19 years old) were tested with Psychological Inventory of Aggression Syndrome by Zbigniew Gaś, K. Mudyń’s Feelings Reality Inventory and a short method of personality testing, the 10-Item Big Five Inventory by Beatrice Rammstedt. As a result of the study, a signifi cant relationship between experienced emotions and aggressive tendencies has been established. Moreover, the severity of aggressive tendencies is more associated with reduction in positive feelings than with the intensification of negative feelings. Negative correlation between sense of security and aggressive action has been established. On the other hand, positive correlates of aggression include such feelings as: pride, distrust, indifference and boredom. Emotional basis of aggressive tendencies plays more important role among girls than among boys. However, the intensity of retaliatory behavior, covert aggression, aggression directed outwards, and total aggression rate occurs stronger in the group of boys.