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State-Trait Anger Inventory & Novaco Anger Scale and Provocation Inventory

Construct Description

Anger is a universally experienced basic emotion. Gage Canadian Dictionary defines it as "the feeling of wanting to retaliate that one has toward some person, animal, or thing that hurts, opposes, offends, or annoys; wrath; strong displeasure" (Avis, Drysdale, Gregg, Neufeldt & Scargill, 1983). Anger has been distinguished from related concepts of hostility and aggression (Spielberger, Reheiser & Sydeman, 1995). While anger does not necessarily result in antisocial behaviours, it has been demonstrated to be a major contributor to offending behaviour as well as a management concern for prison administrators (Suter, Byrne, Byrne, Howells & Day, 2002).

Research or Applied Context in Which Anger Will Need To Be Measured

Both STAXI-2 and NAS-PI would be useful in a context involving risk assessment, evaluation before and after treatment or skills training in anger and aggression control, spousal abuse, evaluation of the contribution of anger to the development of various medical conditions (e.g., hypertension, coronary heart disease, cancer). Both the tests are brief and rather easy to administer. However, in a study dealing with mentally disordered individuals or individuals with very little education, I would prefer the simpler NAS-PI (4th grade reading level as opposed to 6th in STAXI-2). When working in forensic context I would also prefer NAS-PI, as it has a higher validity in forensic population (higher levels of violence) but is not as good in working with less violent, "normal" population.

Continued here: STAXI-2