Interrelation between Anxiety Level and Aggressiveness

Abstract

High anxiety is the base not only for depression development but also to impulsive aggression manifestation. In the previous study we revealed the differences in neurohumoral status in animals with submissive and dominant behavioral types. Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis hyperactivity, the increase in noradrenaline and the decrease in serotonin levels in limbicocortical regions were observed in submissive male rats (high anxiety). Due to these results, we studied an interrelation between anxiety level and aggressiveness index and its components. The research involved 138 participants: 121 young men aged 18 to 22 years and 17 male adolescents within the age range 15-16 years. They were asked to answer Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Eysenck Personality Inventory. The anxiety level was assessed in points. The aggressiveness index, physical, verbal and indirect aggressions were estimated in a percentage of the maximum level. No correlation between the anxiety level and the aggressiveness index was found in whole group of young men. Whole group was separated into three subgroups depending on anxiety level: with high, moderate and low anxiety levels. Strong positive correlation between anxiety level and aggression index in men with high anxiety level and negative correlation between these two parameters in men with low anxiety level were revealed. In last subgroup the correlation was statistically insignificant. In men with moderate anxiety level no correlation between anxiety level and aggression index was observed. This interrelation may be taken into account in anxiety treatment and in the prevention of impulsive aggression manifestation. In whole group of male adolescents no correlation between anxiety and aggressiveness index was found. Obtained data indicate the necessity of participants division depending on anxiety level and using the closed age groups to study the mechanisms of aggression development.