Self-related and motivational constructs as determinants of aggression.: An analysis and validation of a German version of the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire

A German language version of Buss and Perry’s (1992) Aggression Questionnaire is analyzed and evaluated. The dimensional structure posited for the original version with the four components of Physical Aggression, Verbal Aggression, Anger, and Hostility could be confirmed with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The psychometric qualities of the single components and of the total score, in particular internal consistency, stability over time, concurrent, discriminant, and construct validity, were determined and proved to be satisfactory. Self-related constructs like self-esteem, self-concept clarity, narcissism, and BIS/BAS motivational orientation could be shown to predict a substantial proportion of variance in self-reported aggression. Moreover, the aggression components can be shown to be integrated into basic dimensions of personality (approach—avoidance motivation; neuroticism, agreeableness). Gender differences are found not only for single aggression components but more pronouncedly with respect to the relative importance of self-constructs in predicting global aggression scores for men and women.