Angry Thoughts and Response to Provocation: Validity of the Angry Cognitions Scale

Abstract

Recently, Martin and Dahlen (J Ration Emot Cogn Behav Ther 25:155-173, 2007) developed the Angry Cognitions Scale (ACS), a theoretically derived instrument designed to measure the cognitive processes related to anger. This instrument has the potential to inform clinical and research perspectives of anger. Although preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the ACS was positive, further research is required regarding the ACS's temporal stability and predictive validity. The current project sought to address this concern by assessing the six-week test-retest reliability of the ACS, exploring relationships between the ACS subscales and the experience and expression of anger, and assessing the ability of the ACS to predict cognitive and emotional responses to provocation. The ACS demonstrated adequate test-retest reliability and predicted hostile thoughts and state anger following provocation. Thus, results contribute to the literature on the ACS and support its use as a measure of cognitive processes associated with anger. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.