Are You Hot-Tempered?

Personality Test: Anger

Across cultures, anger and aggression aren’t seen as positive forces—yet everyone needs to channel anger constructively. The key is learning to express it without tipping into aggression.

Do you distinguish healthy anger from aggression? Can you express anger in ways that improve relationships? This short quiz can help.

  1. I rarely—if ever—get angry.

  2. I avoid showing anger because I fear people will mistake it for hatred.

  3. I’d rather swallow resentment toward a friend than risk losing the friendship.

  4. No one ever “wins” an argument by exploding in rage.

  5. It’s better to vent anger privately than share it with others.

  6. Anger isn’t a mature or noble response to frustration.

  7. It’s rarely wise to punish someone just because they made you angry.

  8. Expressing anger only breeds more anger and problems.

  9. When I’m angry, I prefer to hide it for fear of looking foolish.

  10. When you’re angry with someone close, you should try to talk—even if it’s hard.

  • You scored points

    You Run Hot

    Angry person illustration You don’t manage anger as well as you could—especially if you want stronger relationships. You might even feel guilty about anger toward someone close. It’s usually better to express anger in the moment than to nurse grudges.

    Why expression matters. Constructive anger does two things: releases pent-up frustration (reducing blow-ups later) and can motivate behavior change. Simply discussing conflict without reaching mutual understanding only postpones it. Also, anger (feeling) isn’t the same as aggression (harmful action).

  • You scored points

    Warm-and-Cool

    Moderate anger control You have a decent grasp of when and how to express anger to set things right—but there’s still room to grow.

    Keep building skills. Aim for calm, specific language, shared goals, and solutions. Remember: expression should move both sides toward understanding; otherwise, it’s just venting.

  • You scored points

    In Control

    High anger control You accept feelings of anger and know how to express them skillfully—often improving relationships as a result.

    What you’re doing right. You separate anger from aggression, focus on shared outcomes, and communicate early—before resentment hardens. Keep modeling it.