The Quadripartite Violence Typology: Exploring its Nomological Network Using the Angry Aggression Scale in a Community Sample of Italian Adults

The Quadripartite Violence Typology (QVT) conceptualizes aggression along intersecting motivational (aversive-appetitive) and self-regulatory (impulsive-controlled) dimensions, yielding four subtypes. This study aimed to expand the nomological network of the Angry Aggression Scale (AAS) within the QVT framework. A community sample of Italian adults ( N = 1,238; M age = 33.5) completed the AAS and measures of aggression, emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, psychopathy, and related constructs. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the four-factor model with partial measurement invariance across sex and adequate internal consistency. Subscales showed distinct yet theoretically coherent nomological profiles, although the impulsive/appetitive subscale demonstrated comparatively lower reliability and weaker nomological specificity. Incremental validity over aggression measures was supported. Findings should be interpreted considering the community-based nature of the sample and may not generalize to populations characterized by severe violent behavior. Overall, results support the AAS as a psychometrically valid tool for assessing motivational and self-regulatory aggression profiles beyond traditional models.