Personality and aggression: the Dissipation-Rumination Scale

This study attempted to examine aggression within a personological framework by using the Dissipation-Rumination Scale (Caprara, Personality and Individual Differences, 7, 763–769, 1986). Individual responses to a provoking situation in which there is a delay between instigation of aggression and opportunity to retaliate were examined. Forty males selected from the scale received either provocation or no provocation and after a 10-minute interval were given the opportunity to retaliate against a confederate. As predicted individual differences in responses were exhibited, with low dissipators-high ruminators displaying higher levels of aggression when previously provoked, F(15.215) = 0.000, P< 0.05. It was concluded that higher levels of aggression are exhibited by personality types who have the tendency to harbour thoughts and feelings of vengeance with the passage of time, when presented with a provoking situation. This was discussed in relation to the cognitive factors that affect the aggressive behaviour of individuals.