How impulsivity and intelligence are related to different forms of aggression

- Aggression shows low relationships with intelligence.
- Direct forms of aggression are more related to impulsivity.
- Indirect forms of aggression are more related to intelligence than direct forms.
- Aggression is more related to general intelligence than to specific abilities.

Several studies have shown that the relationships between intelligence and self-reported aggression are low or non-existent. Most have focused on direct forms of aggression, which often have an impulsive component, unlike indirect aggression, which is usually delayed and allows more time to find alternative solutions to the problem. The present study analyses the relationships between different measures of intelligence and an overall estimate of “g” with direct and indirect forms of aggression and impulsivity in a sample of adolescents (N = 532). The results showed that impulsivity and intelligence showed a different pattern of relationships with different forms of aggression. While intelligence measures were more related to indirect aggression, particularly to the g factor estimate, impulsivity was more related to direct forms of aggression. Furthermore, the relationships observed between aggression and intelligence cannot be explained by impulsivity having the same effect on both kinds of measure and are independent of sex effects. Taking everything into account, intelligence should be regarded as a relevant predictor for the prevention of aggressive behaviour in adolescents, particularly indirect aggression.