Introduction
The Buss–Perry questionnaire separates aggression into physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger and hostility. The 29 statements cover behaviour as well as feelings and interpretations of other people's intentions.
These areas are related but different. Feeling angry, expecting unfair treatment and acting aggressively are not identical experiences. Looking at the pattern across areas can lead to a more specific conversation than using the word aggression as a single description of a person.
Concrete examples may include what happened before an argument, what you felt and what you actually did. Empathy questionnaires explore responses to others' feelings from another perspective; neither empathy nor an aggression score serves as a prediction of what someone will do in a particular situation.
Instructions
Using this 5 point scale, indicate how uncharacteristic or characteristic each of the following statements is in describing you.
Scoring and result metrics
The result page reports a local screening score for this questionnaire. Use the score range, any subscale scores, and the interpretation band together rather than treating one number as a diagnosis.
- Score range
- 0-1
- Items scored
- 29
- Result indicators
- Total score / Subscale scores / Interpretation band when available
Subscale ranges
Physical aggression
Reported range: 0-1
Verbal aggression
Reported range: 0-1
Hostility
Reported range: 0-1
Anger
Reported range: 0-1
Score interpretation bands
- 0-1Factor profile
While there is no numerical cut-off, higher scores indicate increasing severity.
Interpretation bands summarize screening thresholds from the questionnaire source material. Higher scores usually indicate more of the measured concern unless the tool notes a different scoring rule.
Tool information
- Version
- 29 questions
- Administration
- Self-report
- Intended audience
- Adults and older adolescents reflecting on physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility patterns
Sources
- Buss AH, Perry M. (1992). The aggression questionnaire.
- AH Buss & MP Perry. The Aggression Questionnaire. 63 J Pers Soc Psychol 452-459. 1992.
- G Felsten & V Hill. Aggression Questionnaire Hostility Scale Predicts Anger in Response to Mistreatment. 37(1) Behav Res Ther 87-97. 1999.
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