Personality characteristics of high and low aggressive adolescents in residential treatment

Variables related to aggression were explored in a population of psychiatrically disturbed male adolescents in a residential treatment setting. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, Daydreaming Questionaire, Byrne Repression-Sensitization Scale, and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory were administered to high and low aggressive patients. Multivariate analyses of the data indicated that high aggressors were significantly lower in their social desirability needs and significantly higher in their daydreaming, hostile, attitudes and sensitization than were low aggressive patients. These findings were discussed relative to a greater understanding of aggression in emotionally disturbed adolescents and implications for treatment.