Buss-Durkee Hostility Test

The Buss‑Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) is a rigorously developed psychological assessment instrument designed to measure the multidimensional trait of hostility. First introduced in 1957 by psychologists Arnold H. Buss and Marion Durkee, the BDHI was created to provide a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of aggressive tendencies, moving beyond simplistic assessments of anger, impulsivity, or violence. Traditional measures at the time often treated aggression as a unidimensional construct, failing to differentiate between overt physical actions, verbal aggression, covert hostility, and underlying emotional dispositions. In contrast, the BDHI evaluates eight theoretically grounded subscales—Assault, Indirect Hostility, Irritability, Negativism, Resentment, Suspicion, Verbal Hostility, and Guilt—allowing for the detailed profiling of both overt and covert expressions of hostility. Each subscale represents a distinct psychological dimension, reflecting the diverse ways in which hostile tendencies manifest in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

The scientific credibility of the BDHI is supported by decades of empirical research and widespread use in clinical, forensic, and research settings. Its psychometric foundation is well-established, with numerous validation studies demonstrating its construct validity, internal consistency, and ability to discriminate between individuals with varying levels of aggressive tendencies. The instrument’s systematic item construction and theoretical reasoning ensure that each subscale captures meaningful aspects of hostility, rather than measuring general anger or impulsivity alone. Cross-cultural studies have further reinforced the BDHI’s robustness, showing that translated and adapted versions of the inventory retain reliability and validity, enabling its use in diverse populations worldwide. These studies also underscore the BDHI’s capacity to reveal underlying personality traits, such as overt versus covert aggression, and to identify patterns of interpersonal behavior that may have clinical or social significance.

The BDHI has proven valuable in a wide range of research applications. It has been used to explore the links between chronic hostility and physical health outcomes, including cardiovascular risk, stress reactivity, and immune function. In clinical psychology, the inventory aids in the assessment of individuals with personality disorders, anger management issues, or histories of interpersonal violence, providing insights into both behavioral tendencies and underlying emotional processes. Forensic psychologists have applied the BDHI to evaluate the potential for aggressive or antisocial behavior, while developmental and personality researchers have used it to study trait stability, situational influences on aggression, and interactions between hostility and social environments.

Although later instruments, such as the Buss‑Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), have refined aggression measurement by simplifying response formats, clarifying factor structures, and reducing item counts, the BDHI remains a foundational tool in the study of hostility. Its multidimensional approach, empirical support, and nuanced assessment of both direct and indirect aggression continue to make it a reference standard in research and practice. By capturing the complexity of hostile behavior and its cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components, the BDHI provides a comprehensive framework for understanding, predicting, and addressing aggressive tendencies across clinical and normative populations. Its enduring relevance reflects the depth and foresight of Buss and Durkee’s original work and the continued utility of the inventory in contemporary psychological science.

References

• Buss, A. H., & Durkee, M. (1957). The Buss‑Durkee Hostility Inventory.
• Lange, A., Pahlich, A., Sarucco, M., Smits, G., Dehghani, B., & Hanewald, G. (1995). Psychometric characteristics and validity of the Dutch adaptation of the Buss‑Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI‑D). Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33(2), 223–227.
• Vassar, M., & Hale, W. (2009). Reliability reporting across studies using the Buss‑Durkee Hostility Inventory. Journal of Personality Assessment.
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. (2024). Buss‑Durkee Hostility Inventory – RehabMeasures Database.