time intervals might be subjected to further investigation. Also, the BDHI subscale structure has not been fully
supported in factor analytic studies that have been based on more up-to-date factor analytic methodology
(cf.Bushman et al., 1991 ;Buss & Perry, 1992 ). This deficiency motivated construction of the BPAQ which was
based on more recently devised factor analytic methods, and is reviewed next.
BDHI SAMPLE ITEMS
Scale Sample item statement
ASSAULT I have known people who pushed me so far that we came to blows.
INDIRECT I sometimes spread gossip about people I don’t like.
IRRITABILITY I can’t help being a little rude to people I don’t like.
NEGATIVISM When someone is bossy, I do the opposite of what he asks.
RESENTMENT Other people always seem to get the breaks.
SUSPICION I tend to be on my guard with people who are somewhat more friendly than I expected.
VERBAL Even when anger is aroused, I don’t use ‘strong language.’*
GUILT The few times I have cheated, I have suffered unbearable feelings of remorse.
Notes : Items currently rated on a 6-point scale:
*Reverse worded item.
The BDHI can be administered using a two-choice (agree or disagree) and six-choice response format version
(15Strongly disagree to 6 Strongly agree ). A study by Velicer, Govia, Cherico, and Corriveau (1985) concluded that
the two-choice version provided some support for the present theoretical structure, but was not stable across
administrations, whereas the six-choice version resulted in a structure that was different, but more stable across
repeated administrations.
Buss/C0Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ)
(Buss & Perry, 1992 ).
Variable
Revision of the BDHI item pool has resulted in the emergence of a new measure ( Buss & Perry, 1992 ).
The BPAQ includes four components of Physical aggression, Verbal aggression, Anger, and Hostility (cf. Lange
et al., 1995 ).
Description
Buss and Perry (1992) added additional items to the BDHI item pool and following a factor analysis of the
item inter-correlations, the resultant BPAQ consisted of 29 items structured into four subscales as follows:
Physical Aggression (9 items), Verbal Aggression (5 items), Anger (7 items), and Hostility (8 items) (see Lange
et al., 1995 ). The BPAQ utilizes a 5-point Likert-type response format. As compared with the BDHI, the BPAQ
has improved structural properties as well as capturing all three cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions
of the hostility construct. The BPAQ has been used in studies conducted in several different countries including
the USA, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Greece, and Egypt (see Abd-El-Fattah, 2007).
Sample
The BPAQ was based on an initial sample of 1253 university students (612 males; 641 females) aged from
18/C020 years ( Buss & Perry, 1992 ). The total sample consisted of three separate subsamples of undergraduates
(Ns5406, 448, and 399, respectively). Bernstein and Gesn (1997) based their analyses of the BPAQ structure on a
sample of 321 undergraduates (113 males; 208 females). In an Italian version of the BPAQ, Fossati et al. (2003) uti-
lized samples of 563 high school students, and 392 university students. Diamond, Wang, and Buffington-Vollum
(2005) utilized a sample of 383 male prisoners in testing a variety of factor models for the BPAQ, in addition to a
cross-validation sample of 403 male prisoners ( Total N 5786; M534 years, range 19 /C068 years). Abd-El-Fattah78 4. ANGER/HOSTILITY MEASURES
II. EMOTIONAL DISPOSITIONS