Anger response styles and reaction to provocation

Research on anger has benefited greatly from state-trait theory, and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2; Spielberger, 1999) has been the preferred instrument for assessing the experience and expression of anger. However, anger expression may be more complex than the anger-in vs. anger-out dichotomy employed by the STAXI-2. Linden and colleagues (2003) developed the Behavioral Anger Response Questionnaire (BARQ) to measure a broader spectrum of anger expression. The present study was conducted to evaluate the validity of the BARQ by comparing it with the STAXI-2 and assessing the degree to which it might offer incremental validity beyond the STAXI-2 in predicting emotional and cognitive responses to provocation. Findings supported the incremental validity of the BARQ and confirmed most predicted relationships with the STAXI-2. However, additional research is needed to clarify the meaning of one subscale.