A differential semantic assay in order to measure aggressiveness

The Semantic Differential test for aggressiveness consists of 45 phrases depicting situations which may provoke aggression. They are semantically grouped in two categories of covert and of overt aggressiveness. The reliability of the test was verified in a preliminary study, using one group of patients clinically diagnosed as aggressive, and one group of non-aggressive subjects. The means of the two groups' scores were significantly different, 95% of aggressive subjects having greater than 8 unit and only 21% of non-aggressive ones. After the final validation of the test it can be used to diagnose the aggressiveness in Type A behaviour pattern.