The facts on the furious: a brief review of the psychology of trait anger

• Individual differences in aggression are related to trait anger.
• High trait anger is associated with processing biases that reinforce hostile thoughts.
• High trait anger is associated with biological and behavioral indicators of approach motivation.
• Avoidance cues may keep high trait-anger people from becoming angry or aggressive.
• Insights into trait anger may help to improve anger and aggression interventions.

Some people are more prone to aggression than others. These individual differences are associated with trait anger, a personality dimension that relates to the frequency, intensity, and duration with which people experience angry feelings. Trait anger is an important antecedent of state anger and aggression. People with high trait anger tend to perceive situations as hostile and are less capable of controlling their hostile thoughts and feelings. Moreover, people with high trait anger display heightened approach motivation in threatening situations. This reactive approach motivation may be countered by avoidance states, which may reduce anger among high trait anger people. Insights into the underlying processes of trait anger may be used to combat human aggression.