The role of hostility in personality disorder (Pd) traits was explored using the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted to ascertain the relative contributions of the eight hostility scales. The criterion variables were the personality disorder scales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory. The participants were 158 first year male and female university students. The results show that Resentment (covert hostility) explains large proportions of variances in borderline, avoidant, schizotypal, passive-aggressive, obsessive-compulsive, and schizoid disorder traits. Verbal hostility (overt hostility) is associated with antisocial, histrionic, and narcissistic Pd traits. Suspiciousness contributes relatively large variances in paranoid disorder traits, whereas guilt is the dominant aspect of dependent Pd traits. The results are explained with reference to the agreeableness versus antagonism facets of the Five-Factor model of personality and Beck's schema construct.
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