Intelligence and aggression: The role of cognitive control and test related stress

• Intelligence was not associated with external aggression (physical or verbal).
• Intelligence tended to correlate negatively with anger and hostility.
• Higher anger was associated with poorer cognitive control.
• This relationship was attenuated when cognitive ability was added to the model.
• State of worry mediates the relationship between anger/hostility and IQ test.

In three studies we explored the relationship between cognitive ability and various aspects of aggression. In the first investigation, we found that intelligence was not associated with external aggression (physical or verbal), although it tended to correlate negatively with internal processes related with aggressive behavior (anger and hostility). The results of study 2 indicated that higher anger was associated with poorer cognitive control. However, this relationship was attenuated when cognitive ability was added to the model. In the last study we sought psychological states that might accompany individuals with high level of anger and hostility while they are completing an intelligence test. It revealed that the state of worry mediates the relationship between trait anger and hostility and the cognitive ability score. High trait anger and hostility individuals exhibit higher level of negative thoughts about performance and focus on personal concerns while solving a demanding cognitive test.