A correlational study of state and trait anger in relation to the five-factor model of personality.

Abstract

The association between state and trait anger measured by the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) and the Five Factor Model of Personality measured by the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) was investigated. The Neuroticism domain of the NEO-PI-R was of prime interest. Participants were 80 college volunteers (38 men and 42 women). The results indicated an association between State-Anger and Neuroticism, Trait-Anger and Neuroticism, and Trait-Anger and Agreeableness. However, associations only accounted for a small percentage of the variance between each of these variables. The findings indicate that although these two tests are intended to measure personality traits, they seem to be assessing different constructs. The NEO-PI-R appears to measure broad personality Characteristics such as neuroticism and extraversion, whereas the STAXI measures the specific personality trait of anger.