Aggression and anxiety: a new look at an old notion.

The present study examined the relationship between anxiety and aggression. A total of 210 subjects, 8, 12, and 17 years of age, were studied. The Conflict Tactics Scale was used to measure the subjects' verbal and physical aggression. The Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale was used to measure anxiety; the Child Assessment Schedule and its parental version were used to identify the DSM-III diagnoses. Results indicated significantly more anxiety in both the high-verbal and high-physical aggression subjects. Findings are discussed, and clinical implications of the study are considered.