Hegemonic Masculinity Moderates the Relationship Between Empathy and Verbal Aggression in Emerging Adult Men

Guided by the General Aggression Model, the study investigated the moderating role of hegemonic masculinity in the relationship between empathy and verbal aggression among emerging adult men in Australia. A sample of 109 men aged 18 to 29 years (Mage = 24.3 years; SDage = 3.53) completed an online survey including the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-29, and Anger Response Inventory. As predicted, empathy was negatively correlated with verbal aggression, whereas hegemonic masculinity was positively associated with verbal aggression. Moderated regression analysis, controlling for data collection year, revealed a significant moderating effect of hegemonic masculinity on the empathy-verbal aggression relationship. These findings suggest that traditional masculine norms may amplify verbal aggression risk, even among men with higher levels of empathy. Interventions should integrate empathy training with approaches promoting healthy masculinity to reduce aggression in this population.