Monash University: Faculty of Arts

Student's name

Tho Tony Nguyen

School/Campus

Monash Caulfield

Student's
I.D. numb
er

Unit name

Understanding human behaviour

Unit code

Lecturer's name

Kerry O Brien

Tutor's
name

24212792

ATS1261
Kate Barford

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(eg Assignment 1)

Assignment 1 Research Report

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Due date: 29th April 2015

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2015

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Big Five Personality and Alcohol Related Aggression in

an Australian Context

By: Tho Tony Nguyen

Student ID: 24212792

ATS1261 Research Report, 2015 (Major Assessment 1)
Tutor: Kate Barford
Introduction

Violent crime, assaults and cases of family violence are several of the consequences as a result of
excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol-related aggression [1]. Research has shown that there
is substantial evidence that alcohol consumption and violence is closely associated [2]. A study
conducted in Australia among younger males imply that alcohol does play a role in aggression
along with underlying personality factors [3].
Gender differences across three countries, Australia, United States and Korea, found rates
of alcohol usage more common in males than females especially in Korea [4]. Previous
laboratory studies have also recognized that there is no direct relationship between alcohol and
aggression in females [5]. An Australian study [3] reaffirmed past international research that
heavy episodic drinking is considered a leading influence in male alcohol-related aggression
followed by increased risk taking, lower anxiety levels and impaired judgment. Furthermore,
consumption of alcohol at larger levels contributes show a strong association other negative
behaviors such as suicidal tendencies or personal violence [6]. In determining alcohol-related
aggression, important factors to consider such as the Big Five personality traits and social
circumstances have been well established as significant areas of relevance [5]. In addition, higher
levels of trait aggression were found more common in those who reported male alcohol-related
aggression (MARA) than those who did not.

In an Australian context, there has been numerous research that have found considerable
association between heavy episodic alcohol consumption and aggression along with underlying
personality factors [3]. However, there is very little emphasis on personality frameworks and
gender differences associated with alcohol-induced aggression.
There is a lack of research examining the link between personality frameworks,
particularly the Big Five personality dimensions, and gender differences associated with malealcohol related aggression within an Australian context. Despite the negative outcomes of
MARA, binge drinking and alcohol induced behaviors, there is significance in understanding the
role of personality traits in the overall cases alcohol-induced aggression. It is therefore important
to explore the link between the Big Five personality dimensions with alcohol-related aggression
in the Australian context.

Methods

Participants
As part of a behavioural studies course requirement, two thousand and one hundred
students from Monash University, Caulfield, Australia, participated in the study and were all
above the age of 18 years old. Of the 2,100 participants, 899 were females (44%) and 1,163
were males (56%). The mean age of the sample was 19.9733 1.78564 of variation (standard
deviation). The study also measured the Age of first alcoholic drink from participants and results
show, the mean age for females is 14.0688 2.17382 and the mean age for males is 13.9049
2.13727. The total number of people asked to study, N = 2,500, 2100 participated in the study

which provides a response rate of 84%.

Measures
The initial part of the study involved participants taking an online survey to gather
demographic data (age, gender, BMI, age of first alcoholic drink).

Personality:
Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI; Gosling et al 2003) of the Big Five framework
consists of 10 items with every personality dimension (i.e. Neuroticism/Emotional Stability,
Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Extraversion) represented by two
items that expressed a positive and negative aspect of the dimension. A variety of other research
instruments of the Big-Five framework were not utilized due to lengthy measures (i.e. NEO 240
items) therefore shorter and briefer instruments such as the TIPI measure was considered.
Although the TIPI is less reliable compared with other multi-item Big-Five measures, it however
provides ease of psychometric properties and allows for a shift in the scope of the Big Five
studies with other outcomes and constructs. Therefore, the validity of the scales far exceed its
reliability as a brief instrument. On a scale of 1 to 7, disagree strongly to agree strongly
respectively, participants were required to rate which characteristics from TIPI (e.g.
Dependable/Self-Disciplined, Sympathetic/Warm) that best describes them. Stronger personality
traits of the five dimensions were indicated by higher scores from the measure.

Procedure
The study was provided online through the student portal and was conducted from midMarch to mid-April 2015. Participants were first briefed of the survey that provided a baseline
for ethical consent by explaining the purpose, methods, demands, risks and potential benefits of
the research. Participants were also advised of the anonymity of the survey and option of not
participating in the study. After completion of the study, within one week, participants received a
full debrief of the study. All participants of the study were given the leisure of completing the
study in their own spare time.

Statistical Analysis
Both descriptive and inferential statistics are used in this study, where simple means and
standard deviations of the variables (e.g. age of first drink vs. openness to experience).
Correlations are also conducted to analyze relationships amongst variables. An analysis of
variation (ANOVA) was conducted to assess gender differences from statistics.

Results

From the 2100 participants in the study, descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviations for

TIPI total and subscale scores were calculated. TIPI subscale scores represented the Big-Five
personality traits that were all calculated. There were no significant gender differences in four
out of the five personality traits, extraversion (male = 9.8 2.6 and female = 10.0 2.5),
conscientiousness (male = 9.9 2.4 and female = 10.3 2.5), emotional stability (male = 10.2
2.4 and female 9.7 2.4) and agreeableness (male = 9.3 2.1 and female = 9.7 2.1).
Interestingly, the personality trait openness to experience (male = 10.4 2.1 and female = 10.4
2.1) shows absolute zero gender differences with means and standard deviations identical.
An ANOVA was conducted to determine any significant gender differences between
alcohol-related aggression and TIPI subscale scores. While adjusting for age, there is a
significance in personality dimensions found in TIPI subscale scores (F = 7.9, P = 0.003, P <
0.05). Of the five personality dimensions, there is significant gender differences found in three
dimensions namely, conscientiousness (F = 14.1, P < 0.005), agreeableness (F = 20.3, P < 0.005)
and emotional stability (F = 37.0, P < 0.005). There were no significant differences in gender
amongst openness to experience and extraversion, particularly the trait openness to experience (F
= 0.003, P = 0.954).
Correlation analysis between variables for men and women showed significant
relationships. For males, correlations between each personality dimension with one another
showed positive correlations, particularly extraversion and openness to experience, and
extraversion and emotional stability (r = 0.425 and r = 0.302 respectively). In addition, a
significant positive correlation between personality trait extraversion and alcohol consumption
measure AUDIT-C (r = 0.151). Conversely, personality traits, conscientiousness and
agreeableness(r = -0.164 and r = -0.093 respectively) had negative correlations with the level of
alcohol consumption that essentially meant that individuals who were more self-disciplined and

kind or sympathetic were less likely to consume high amounts of alcohol. However, correlation
does not necessarily mean that one variable is not solely caused by another and that other factors
are likely to contribute to personality traits of individuals. Similarly to men, correlations in
women between the five personality dimensions with each other showed positive relationships,
particularly extraversion and openness to experience (r = 0.414). Personality traits correlated
positively with alcohol consumption namely extraversion and emotional stability (r = 0.165 and r
= 0.68 respectively). However, conscientiousness and agreeableness (r = -0.162 and r = -0.100)
showed negative correlations with relation to alcohol consumption AUDIT-C measures.

Discussion
The present study explored the relationships of male alcohol related aggression between
the Big Five personality dimensions and showed significant association [5]. An increasing
development of research has found considerable association regarding excessive alcohol
consumption and aggression, however the relationship between personalities dimensions with
alcohol related aggression within an Australian context remains unclear. TIPI subscale scores
showed similar associations with the personality dimensions and alcohol-related aggression,
particularly extraversion and emotional stability. From the present study, it is established that
personality dimensions do have a significant role in the relationship between alcohol related
aggression in Australia particularly extraversion and emotional stability. In addition, openness to
experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness were found to move away from alcohol
aggression, especially conscientiousness. This also suggests consistency of present US research
which show personality as a robust correlate of anti-social behavior and aggression [7]. In
addition, results seem to also support that self-control processes that are used to suppress

aggression are linked to at least one of the Big Five personality dimensions, namely
conscientiousness [8].
Although there is significant association between personality dimensions and alcohol
related aggression, the Big Five framework in itself is a broad measure which suggests further
study into specific areas or facets of the personality dimensions are required. Due to part of
longer assessment or research time, shorter instruments such as TIPI limit the ability to justify
specific personality measures and the reliability of the findings. Future research needs to look
into the area of the broad five personality dimensions using multi-item measures to identify more
specific associations between alcohol-related aggression and gender differences. Furthermore,
the level of alcohol-related aggression with specific facets of the personality dimensions [7]
namely conscientiousness, extraversion and emotional stability are areas of interest for future
research within the Australian context.

References
1. Pihl R, Lau M, Jean-Mark A. Aggressive Disposition, Alcohol and Aggression.
Aggressive Behavior. 1997; 23(1): 11-18.
2. Alcohol and Violence. The Lancet. 1990;336(8725): 1223-1224.
3. Miller P, Wells S, Hobbs R, Zinkiewicz L, Curtis A, Graham K. Alcohol, masculinity,
honour and male barroom aggression in an Australian sample. Drug and Alcohol
Review. March, 2014;(33):136-143.
4. French D, Sargent-Cox K, Kim S, Anstey K. Gender differences in alcohol
consumption among middle-aged and older adults in Australia, the United States and
Korea. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 2014;38(4): 332-339

5. Giancola P, Zeichner A. Alcohol-Related aggression in males and females: effects of

blood alcohol concentration, subjective intoxication, personality, and provocation.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. February, 1995;19(1): 130-134
6. Lester D. Alcohol consumption and rates of personal violence in Australia. Drug and
Alcohol Dependence. 1992;31:15 17.
7. Jones S, Miller J, Lynam D. Personality, antisocial behavior, and aggression: A metaanalytic review. Journal of Criminal Justice. July August, 2011;39(4): 329-337
8. Jensen-Campbell L, Knack J, Waldrip A, Campbell S. Do Big Five personality traits
associated with self-control influence the regulation of anger and aggression?. Journal
of Research in Personality. April, 2007;41(2): 403-424.

Table 1 Descriptive Statistics

Table 2

Table 2 - ANOVA

Table 3 Female Correlations

Age
R=
P value =
Extraversion
R=
P Value

Age

Extraversi
on

Conscientousness Openness
Agreeableness Emotional AUD
to
Stability
Experience

-0.063
0.063

-.003
0.926

0.15
0.662

-0.27
0.428

-0.85
0.012

-0.136
0.000

0.230
0.000

0.414
0.000

0.121
0.000

0.380
0.000

0.164
0.000

0.358
0.000

.
0.261
0.000

0.305
0.000

-0.162
0.000

0.341
0.000

0.404
0.000

-0.063
0.063

Conscientiousness
R=
P value =

-0.003
0.926

0.230
0.000

Openness to
Experience
R=
P value =

0.015
0.662

0.414
0.000

0.358
0.000

Agreeableness
R=
P value =

-0.027
0.428

0.121
0.000

0.261
0.000

0.341
0.000

Emotional
Stability
R=
P value =

-0.85
0.012

0.380
0.000

0.305
0.000

0.404
0.000

0.343
0.000

0.343
0.000

-0.029
0.391

-0.168
0.000

0.068
0.044

Table 4 - Male Correlations

Age
R=
P value =

Extraversion
R=
P Value

Age

Extraversi
on

Conscientousness Openness
Agreeableness Emotional AUD
to
Stability
Experience

0.002
0.949

0.001
0.982

0.024
0.428

-0.025
0.402

-0.091
0.002

-0.084
0.004

0.166
0.000

0.425
0.000

0.124
0.000

0.302
0.000

0.151
0.000

0.296
0.000

.
0.175
0.000

0.256
0.000

-0.164
0.000

0.270
0.000

0.307
0.000

0.32
0.289

0.341
0.000

-0.093
0.002

-0.012
0.687

0.002
0.949

Conscientiousness
R=
P value =

0.001
0.9

0.166
0.000

Openness to
Experience
R=
P value =

0.024
0.428

0.425
0.000

0.296
0.000

Agreeableness
R=
P value =

-0.025
0.402

0.124
0.000

0.175
0.000

0.270
0.000

Emotional
Stability
R=
P value =

-0.91
0.002

0.302
0.000

0.256
0.000

0.307
0.000

0.341
0.000