Interpersonal determinants of trait anger: low agreeableness, perceived low social esteem, and the amplifying role of the importance attached to social relationships

The aim of the present study is to provide an interpersonal account of trait anger. Given the interpersonal nature of anger, it is hypothesized that one’s attitude towards others (in terms of low agreeableness) as well as one’s beliefs about others’ attitudes towards oneself (in terms of perceived low social esteem, the belief that one is lowly valued by others) contribute to trait anger. Additionally, it is argued that the effects of these interpersonal variables are amplified as people increasingly value their social relationships. To address these hypotheses, individual differences measures of the variables in question were administered (N=360). The results confirmed the hypotheses: Both agreeableness and perceived social esteem were negatively related to trait anger, and the contribution of these variables in predicting trait anger was amplified as individuals attach more importance to social relations. Identical conclusions were reached when the analyses were performed when controlling for social desirability. Some implications for accounts of anger are discussed.