The relationship between temperament and character traits and anger response styles in university students

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between temperament and character and anger and anger response styles in late adolescent undergraduate university students. Method: In this study, 227 university students aged between 18 and 25 years volunteered to participate. Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), and a Personal Information Form (PIF) prepared by one of the researchers were administered. Results: The study found correlations between temperament and character and anger and anger response styles. While a positive correlation was found between trait anger and novelty seeking and harm avoidance, a negative correlation was found between trait anger and reward dependence, self-directedness, and cooperativeness. A positive correlation was found between anger-in and harm avoidance, a negative correlation was found between anger-in and reward dependence, self-directedness, and cooperativeness. A positive correlation was found between anger-out and novelty seeking while a negative correlation was found between reward dependence, self-directedness, and cooperativeness. Finally, a positive correlation was found between anger control and reward dependence, self-directedness and cooperativeness, while a negative correlation was found between anger control and novelty seeking. In addition to these results, some variables have an impact on temperament and anger response styles. Conclusion: Our study is important in that it demonstrates a number of correlations between temperament and character traits and anger response styles. In order to examine the relation between anger and temperament in more detail, it seems necessary to carry out studies with younger adolescents. Another important aspect is to point out the need to take temperament traits into consideration in clinical applications.