The role of personality traits and emotional-behavioral problems on perceving reactive-proactive agression in adolescents

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the rate of reactive- proactive agression seen in adolescents is perceived by personality traits and emotional and behavioural problems. The survey was conducted on a total of 991 students, 559 girls and 432 boys,who continued to the 9th,10th,11th,12th grades of the 7 high schools in the province of Mersin and Tarsus city .The data related to adolescents' reactive and proactive agression were obtained from "Reactive-Proactive Agression Scale"(Raine ve ark., 2006). The data related to emotional -behavioural problems was collected through using "Evaluation Scale for Young People" (Achenbach ve Edelbrock, 1991).The data related to personality extent was collected through using 'Quick Big Five Personality Test (Morsünbül, 2014) and also the data related to personal information was collected through using 'Personal Information Form' which was developed by researcher. The data was analyzed through Multiple Regression Analysis. The result of this study revealed that there was a meaningful and positive direction relationship between reactive-proactive agression total score and externalization problems, internalization problem, openness to experience and extraversion. Moreover, there was a negative and meaningful relationship between emotionality stability, agreeableness and conscientiousness. It was revealed that there was a negative direction and meaningful relationship between reactive agression and emotionality stability, conscientiousness and agreeableness. There was no relationship between reactive agression and extraversion. It was revealed that there was a positive and significiant relationship between proactive agression and externalization problems, internalization problem, openness to experience, extraversion. In adition, it was determined that there was a negative relationship between proactive agression and conscientiousness, emotionality stability, agreeableness. All of the variables in this study together explained 45% of the total variance of total aggression (extraversion, emotionality stability, conscientiousness, agreeableness openness to experience). Externalization problems, emotionality stability, openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion and agreeableness were the main predictors of total score of reactive-proactive agression. All of the variables in this study together explained 42% of the total variance of reactive aggression. Besides, it was revealed that reactive agression was predited by both externalization, internalization problems and emotionality stability, openness to experience, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness. Finally, all of the variables in this study together explained 26% of the total variance of proactive aggression. It was determined that internalization problems, externalization problems, openness to experience and, conscientiousness were meaningful predictors of proactive agression. Key words: Reactive-proactive agression, five factor personality traits, emotional-behavioural problems