Heart rate reactivity, aggression, anger, and antisocial behavior in dating males

Abstract

This study assessed heart rate reactivity and antisocial characteristics, subjective report of anger, and family history variables in 18 aggressive and 18 nonaggressive undergraduate males in an attempt to test the generalizability of Gottman et al.'s (1995) investigation of cardiovascular reactivity as a typological variable for male batterers. Participants were categorized according to their scores on the Conflict Tactics Scale, Revised. Heart rate reactivity, personality variables (using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition), and anger (using the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory) were subsequently measured during standardized interpersonal discussion tasks with a female confederate during the laboratory phase. Aggressive males reported having angrier temperaments and reactions to provocative situations than did their non-aggressive peers. Aggressive and non-aggressive males did not differ in terms of heart rate reactivity, personality variables, control or expression of anger, or witnessing violence between parents.