Proactive and Reactive Aggression are Associated with Different Physiological and Personality Profiles

Researchers have identified two subtypes of aggression. Reactive aggression is characterized by impulsive angry retaliation and has been associated with narcissism while proactive aggression is calculated and linked to psychopathy. However, these aggression subtypes commonly co-occur and little is known about factors that underlie each subtype or their overlap. The present study examined the relationship of psychophysiological factors, psychopathic, and narcissistic traits to proactive and reactive aggression during an experimental paradigm. Among men, proactive aggression was predicted by low physiological reactivity to anxiety/punishment. Conversely, reactive aggression was associated with narcissistic traits and poor decision making under risk and rewards conditions for both sexes. Manipulative and egocentric features of psychopathy were related to proactive physical aggression among men but to reactive indirect aggression among women. These data point to factors that uniquely influence each aggression subtype and their co-occurrence, and highlight the role of gender in the expression of aggression.