Final answer:
Negative Affectivity is a disposition characterized by the frequent experience of negative emotions such as hostility and anger, linked with an increased risk of heart disease due to the associated social and physiological strain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term Negative Affectivity refers to a personality characteristic in which individuals have a pervasive tendency to experience a broad range of negative emotions such as anger, hostility, contempt, guilt, and fear. According to research, high levels of negative affectivity are associated with emotional instability and characteristics such as anger, impulsiveness, and hostility. An example cited in Watson and Clark (1984) found that individuals who reported high levels of neuroticism, which is closely related to negative affectivity, also reported feeling anxious and unhappy.
Furthermore, there is a connection between negative affectivity and physical health; studies have shown that high levels of anger and hostility, often found in individuals with negative affectivity, may be significant risk factors in the development of heart disease. This is supported by the transactional model of hostility, which suggests that hostile thoughts and feelings promote antagonistic behavior, leading to social strain and possibly to cardiovascular disease, as described in Vella et al. (2012).
Moreover, in the context of aggression, hostile aggression is driven by anger with the intent to cause pain, which differs from instrumental aggression, driven by achieving a goal and not necessarily involving the intent to cause pain. The prevalence of negative affectivity can greatly influence social interactions and overall well-being.