Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire

The Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) is a widely used 29-item self-report inventory that measures trait aggression in adult populations.

Questions: 29
Duration: 10 min
Original title: BPAQ — Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire
Adaptation: Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire
Authors: Buss, A. H. & Perry, M.
Created: 1992

The Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) is a widely used 29-item self-report inventory that measures trait aggression in adult populations. Originally developed as an improvement over earlier hostility inventories, this measure breaks down the broad construct of aggression into four distinct but correlated dimensions. It offers clinicians a nuanced view of how an individual typically experiences and expresses aggressive impulses, moving beyond a single global score.

Because the BPAQ captures both the behavioral and the affective-cognitive components of aggression, it is a highly valuable tool for psychological assessment and treatment planning. Clinicians can use it to establish a baseline profile of a patient's aggressive tendencies and to monitor changes over time. Its robust psychometric properties make it a reliable choice for evaluating anger regulation interventions, distress tolerance training, and general therapeutic progress.

Example result

Fictitious result, computed from a sample set of answers.

Overall score

85/ 145

A 29-item self-report questionnaire assessing dispositional (trait) aggression in adolescents and adults. It measures four dimensions: physical aggression (behavioral), verbal aggression (behavioral), anger (affective/emotional), and hostility (cognitive: resentment, suspicion, sense of injustice). Widely used in clinical psychology, psychiatry, forensic settings, and research, it allows clinicians to objectify a patient's aggressive profile, identify the most salient dimensions, and track progress throughout treatment.

29–61

Low

62–76

Average

77–89

Above Average

90–100

High

101–145

Very High

Severity ranges were defined in raw score terms by considering both the cut-off and the distribution of men's scores being higher relative to women.

généralemen · students · n = 612

29145

M = 77.8 ± 16.5

généralewomen · students · n = 641

29145

M = 68.2 ± 17

cliniquemen · condition: incarcerated violent offenders · violent offenders · Canada · 2018

29145

M = 82

For information

Cut-off≥ 76Elevated levels of aggression

To distinguish between normal and elevated levels of aggression. Calculated using the Jacobson and Truax (1991) method considering the SD and mean of community and clinical samples.

Scoring

Sum per subscale + total score, total score from 29 to 145, each item is scored on a 5-point scale (from 1 to 5).

Anger

21/ 35

Anger, representing the emotional or affective component of aggression, acting as a bridge between the instrumental and cognitive components.

items 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

généralemen · students · n = 612

735

M = 17 ± 5.6

généralewomen · students · n = 641

735

M = 16.7 ± 5.8

Hostility

24/ 40

Hostility, representing the cognitive component of aggression, encompassing feelings of ill will, resentment, and suspicion.

items 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

généralemen · students · n = 612

840

M = 21.3 ± 5.5

généralewomen · students · n = 641

840

M = 20.2 ± 6.3

Physical aggression

25/ 45

Physical Aggression, representing the instrumental or motor components of aggression.

items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

généralemen · students · n = 612

945

M = 24.3 ± 7.7

généralewomen · students · n = 641

945

M = 17.9 ± 6.6

Verbal aggression

15/ 25

Verbal Aggression, representing the instrumental or motor components of aggression.

items 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

généralemen · students · n = 612

525

M = 15.2 ± 3.9

généralewomen · students · n = 641

525

M = 13.5 ± 3.9

Have your patient take this test

Assign it in one click: your patient answers on their phone, you receive the score and its interpretation.

Assign this test to a patient

What the test measures

The BPAQ evaluates trait aggression by capturing four specific dimensions of the construct:

Physical Aggression: The behavioral tendency to use physical force against others or objects during conflicts.
Verbal Aggression: The behavioral propensity to engage in verbal arguments, express disagreement forcefully, or use hostile language.
Anger: The affective component, reflecting physiological arousal, quick temper, and poor emotional control.
Hostility: The cognitive component, representing feelings of ill will, injustice, bitterness, and suspicion toward others, often maintained by underlying cognitive distortion patterns.

This instrument is validated for use with adults in both clinical and general populations.

When and why to use it

Clinicians typically administer the BPAQ to assess the severity and structure of a patient's aggressive traits and to guide therapeutic interventions.

Intake assessment: To establish a comprehensive baseline profile of the patient's behavioral, emotional, and cognitive patterns of aggression.
Treatment planning: To identify whether clinical focus should prioritize behavioral control, distress tolerance skills, or addressing hostile beliefs.
Monitoring progress: To measure the effectiveness of emotion regulation protocols or cognitive restructuring over the course of therapy.
Differential support: To distinguish between patients who primarily struggle with internal feelings of resentment and those who enact aggressive behaviors, helping tailor coping strategies for difficult situations.

Using a validated measure like the BPAQ provides a structured, objective quantification of aggression that complements clinical observation, ensuring that underlying hostile cognitions or impulsive anger patterns are not overlooked.

Clinical library

750+ clinical tools

A library built with and for clinicians, ready to use in session and extend between appointments.

Access all the tools

Several resource types

Psychoeducation handouts

Understand at a glance

Interactive exercises

To do and fill in

Interactive programs

A structured path

Audios

Meditation and relaxation

Psychometric tests

Automatic scoring

The questions

Using the scale below, indicate to what extent each of the following statements applies to you. Choose the response that best describes your usual way of thinking, feeling, or acting.
1. Sometimes I can't control the urge to hit someone.
This item evaluates the patient's subjective difficulty in restraining the impulse to inflict physical harm.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
2. If I'm provoked enough, I might hit someone.
This item assesses the threshold at which provocation translates into physical violence.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
3. If someone hits me, I hit back.
This item explores retaliatory physical aggression in response to being attacked.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
4. I get into fights a little more often than the average person.
This item measures the self-reported frequency of engaging in physical altercations relative to others.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
5. If I have to use violence to protect my rights, I will.
This item probes the patient's willingness to use violence instrumentally to defend their perceived rights.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
6. Some people have pushed me so far that we came to blows.
This item evaluates the occurrence of escalating interpersonal conflicts into physical violence.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
7. I can't think of any good reason to hit anyone.
This reversed item captures the degree to which the patient rejects physical violence as a justifiable response.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
8. I have threatened people I know.
This item assesses the use of intimidation or threats toward acquaintances.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
9. I have gotten so angry that I've broken things.
This item measures the tendency to direct intense anger toward objects through destructive behavior.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
10. I openly tell my friends when I disagree with them.
This item explores the patient's directness in expressing verbal disagreement within close relationships.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
11. I often find myself disagreeing with people.
This item assesses the general frequency of interpersonal friction and verbal conflict.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
12. When people annoy me, I might tell them what I think of them.
This item evaluates the patient's propensity to verbally confront others when feeling annoyed.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
13. I can't help getting into arguments when people disagree with me.
This item captures the compulsive nature of engaging in verbal arguments when faced with opposing views.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
14. My friends say I'm somewhat argumentative.
This item measures how the patient's verbal combativeness is perceived by their peer group.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
15. I have a quick temper, but I get over it quickly.
This item examines the rapid onset and equally rapid resolution of affective anger.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
16. When I'm frustrated, I show my irritation.
This item assesses the external display of negative affect when the patient encounters frustration.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
17. I sometimes feel like a powder keg ready to explode.
This item explores the subjective experience of harboring volatile, highly reactive emotional tension.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
18. I am a calm and even-tempered person.
This reversed item evaluates the patient's self-perception as a calm and emotionally stable individual.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
19. Some of my friends think I get angry easily.
This item captures social feedback regarding the patient's quick temper and emotional reactivity.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
20. Sometimes I fly off the handle for no good reason.
This item assesses the presence of sudden outbursts of anger that lack an identifiable or proportionate trigger.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
21. I have trouble controlling my temper.
This item measures the patient's perceived deficit in emotional self-regulation and temper control.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
22. I am sometimes consumed by jealousy.
This item explores the intensity of hostile rumination driven by envy or jealousy.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
23. At times, I feel that life hasn't been fair to me.
This item evaluates feelings of victimization and a pervasive sense of unfairness regarding life circumstances.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
24. It seems that other people always have better luck than me.
This item captures hostile comparisons that emphasize the perceived unearned advantages of others.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
25. I sometimes wonder why I feel so bitter about things.
This item assesses the presence of chronic resentment and bitter rumination.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
26. I know that my 'friends' talk about me behind my back.
This item measures paranoid ideation or deep mistrust concerning the loyalty of friends.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
27. I'm suspicious of strangers who are overly friendly.
This item explores cynical hostility and suspicion directed at unfamiliar people who display warmth.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
28. I sometimes feel that people are laughing at me behind my back.
This item evaluates the projection of hostile intent onto others, manifesting as a fear of being mocked.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me
29. When people are especially nice, I wonder what they want.
This item captures a fundamental mistrust of positive social interactions, attributing hidden motives to kindness.
- Not at all like me
- Not very much like me
- Somewhat like me
- Very much like me
- Exactly like me