Abstract: The integrative cognitive model (ICM) is an integration of several related theories, which explore the effect of individual differences in internal cognitive processes on a person’s level of trait anger from hostile situation inputs to reactive aggression. With considering the element of personality trait, it builds up a relational model among the three internal core cognitive processes, which are hostile interpretation, ruminative attention and effortful control. This model, with features of a clear and obvious structure and being easily controlled, enlightens integrative empirical researches of this area and opens a new path to reactive aggression theory exploration, and it also has great value of application. This theory still lacks further studies which multiple processing mechanisms of the ICM are assessed among the same set of participants, and some relevant neurophysiology studies and mental intervention exploration, which will be important topics for the future research.

Key words: trait anger, reactive aggression, integrative cognitive model, hostile interpretation, ruminative attention, effortful control