Eric C. Reheiser

Measuring the Experience, Expression, and Control of Anger

The goal of this study was to develop a psychometric scale to assess the experience, expression and control of anger in Latin American countries. Items for the Spanish Multicultural Inventory (STAXI_ SM) were adapted from the xpression Inventory (STAXI). In keeping with the of stare-anger, trair_ anger, and anger expression also constructed to replace those c reviewed by countries, and items was adm congress of Psychology in san Juan, puerto Rico. Responses to the items, factored in separate principal factors analyses for males and females with promax rotations, identified 8 factors comparable to those of the English STAXI: two item scales for measuring the components of state and trait anger, and four 6-item scales for assessing anger expression and control. Alpha coefficients for these brief scales for females and males varied between .79 and .92.

Job stress in university, corporate, and military personnel.

The Job Stress Survey (JSS) was administered to large samples of university and corporate employees and senior military personnel. Differences in the perceived severity, frequency of occurrence, and overall level of occupational stress were evaluated for individuals working in these settings. Gender differences in job stress and the factor structure of the JSS were also evaluated. Two occupational stress factors were identified, Job Pressure and Organizational Support, which were remarkably stable for males and females and for individuals working in university, corporate, and military settings. Corporate employees reported higher levels of perceived severity of job stress than the other groups, whereas military personnel reported that they more frequently experienced almost all of the job stress events. No overall differences were found for the three groups in the JSS Job Stress Index.

The Nature and Measurement of Anger

The nature of anger, hostility, and aggression and the relations among these concepts are considered in this chapter. The evolution of the concepts of anger and aggression from the ancient writings of Plato and Aristotle to those of Darwin and Freud is noted. Recent research findings on the relationships between anger, Type A behavior, and coronary heart disease (CHD) are also reviewed, and the essential distinction between anger as an emotional state and individual differences in anger as a personality trait is clarified. Conceptual definitions of anger, hostility, and aggression are examined as components of the AHA! Syndrome, in which anger is clearly an essential emotional motivator of both hostility and aggression. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the ubiquitous nature of anger in daily life and the use of the State–Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) to assess the experience, expression, and control of anger in research and the diagnosis and treatment of anger-related problems.

Motivational, emotional, and personality characteristics of smokeless tobacco users compared with cigarette smokers

Abstract Consistent evidence from a large number of studies suggests that personality, motivation, and emotional factors contribute to the initiation and continued use of tobacco products. This study compared the reasons why male smokers (N = 267) and smokeless tobacco (SLT) users (N = 271) begin and continue to use tobacco products. The study participants completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), and Spielberger State–Trait Personality Inventory (STPI) and Anger EXpression (AX) Scale. They also responded to questionnaires designed to evaluate the initiation, maintenance, and motivation to use tobacco. Both SLT-users and smokers reported novelty and enjoyment as the primary reasons for beginning to use tobacco products. Enjoyment, stimulation and management of emotions were ranked by both groups as the most important reasons for continuing to use tobacco. Significant correlations of the EPQ, STPI, and AX scales with measures of the initiation, maintenance and motivation to use tobacco support Eysenck Diathesis Stress Model in explaining the persistent use of tobacco products.

Personality characteristics of users of smokeless tobacco compared with cigarette smokers and non-users of tobacco products

This study compares the personality characteristics of men who use smokeless tobacco (ST) products with smokers and non-users. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), and the Anger Expression (AX) Scale were given to a heterogeneous sample of 755 men residing in Florida and Texas, consisting of 275 ST-Users, 272 smokers, and 208 non-users. Participants were screened to ensure adequate reading ability, and were tested individually at convenience stores, gun and boat shows, barbecue and truck-stop restaurants, and a county fair. ST-Users and smokers had significantly higher mean EPQ Psychoticism and STPI Trait Anger scores than non-users. Smokers also had significantly higher EPQ Neuroticism and Anger-In scores, and were lower in trait curiosity than non-users; the scores of the ST-Users on these measures fell between those of the smokers and non-users, and did not differ significantly from either group. Although no differences in Extraversion were found between ST-Users, smokers and non-users, Occasional ST-Users had significantly higher E scores than Regular Users of smokeless tobacco products.

Personality, motivational and situational determinants of regular and occasional use of smokeless tobacco

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of personality, motivational, and situational factors on Regular (n=191) and Occasional (n=80) users of smokeless tobacco (SLT) products. The participants completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Spielberger’s State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI) and Anger Expression (AX) Scale, and questionnaires designed to evaluate the reasons why SLT-Users begin, continue, and are motivated to use smokeless tobacco. Occasional Users had higher scores than Regular Users on the EPQ Extraversion scale; no other personality differences were found between these groups. Ratings of the importance of the reasons for beginning to use tobacco products were quite similar for the Regular and Occasional Users; novelty and enjoyment were ranked highest by both groups. In contrast, Regular Users rated 7 of the 10 reasons for continuing to use tobacco as significantly more important than Occasional Users; enjoyment, stimulation and management of emotions were ranked as most important by both groups. Findings that smokeless tobacco products enhanced positive affect and intellectual stimulation, and reduced anxiety and boredom were generally consistent with Eysenck’s Diathesis Stress Model.

Personality determinants of the use of tobacco products

According to Eysencks Diathesis-Stress Theory, individual differences in personality contribute to the persistent use of tobacco products. In previous research, users of smokeless tobacco (SLT-Users) scored significantly higher than Non-Users on the Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Psychoticism scales of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. SLT-Users also scored higher on Spielbergers trait anxiety and trait anger measures, and were described as more impulsive, aggressive and quick-tempered than Non-Users. Consistent with Eysencks Theory and previous research, SLT-Users in the present study had significantly higher mean scores than Non-Users of tobacco products on trait anxiety and the NEO-FFI Neuroticism scale. The SLT-Users also had significantly higher trait anger, angry temperament, and angry reaction scores than Smokers and Non-Users, and reported that they were more likely to express rather than control their angry feelings. However, in contrast with previous research, no differences were found between SLT-Users, Smokers and Non-Users on the NEO Extraversion scale. An important and unique finding of the present study was that SLT-Users had significantly lower NEO-FFI Agreeableness and Conscientiousness scores than Smokers and Non-Users.