Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
08:09
Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
From emotional dysregulation to violence: Psychological pathways associated with aggressive behavior
1Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, 121000, China.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|May 26, 2026
Summary
Emotional dysregulation significantly predicts violent behavior, mediated by impulsivity and chronic stress. Affective instability further moderates this link, highlighting targets for violence prevention.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Violence and hostile behavior are critical global public health issues.
- Emotional dysregulation is recognized as a key psychological driver of violent behavior.
- The precise mechanisms linking emotional dysregulation to violence require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms connecting emotional regulation and violent behavior.
- To examine the moderating roles of impulsivity, chronic stress, and affective instability.
- To develop a comprehensive model of factors influencing violent behavior.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study of 1847 participants using validated measures for emotional dysregulation, violent behavior, impulsivity, affective instability, and chronic stress.
- Hierarchical regression, structural equation modeling, and bootstrapped mediation analyses were employed.
- A moderated mediation model was tested to analyze the complex relationships between variables.
Main Results:
- Emotional dysregulation directly correlated with violent behavior, explaining 28.7% of the variance.
- Impulsivity and chronic stress acted as significant mediators in this relationship.
- Affective instability moderated the association at high levels, with the full model explaining 43.6% of the variance in violent behavior.
Conclusions:
- Intervention strategies integrating emotional control, impulse control, and stress management are recommended for violence prevention.
- These interventions may be particularly effective for individuals with high affective instability.
- Understanding these mechanisms can inform targeted public health approaches to reduce violence.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:47Aggression
Humans engage in aggression when they seek to cause harm or pain to another person. Aggression takes two forms depending on one’s motives: hostile or instrumental. Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain; a fight in a bar with a stranger is an example of hostile aggression. In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993); a contract killer who murders for hire...
01:20Physiology of Emotion
The physiology of emotions is a multifaceted process involving the autonomic nervous system, brain structures, hormones, and neurotransmitters. This intricate interplay dictates how emotions manifest in the body and influence behavior.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
01:21Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation
Affiliation motivation is the intrinsic desire to connect with others and belong to a social group, which plays a crucial role in forming and maintaining personal relationships. This type of motivation is essential for psychological well-being, as it provides individuals with a sense of community and support. An example of this is a student who joins a study group in order to feel a sense of connection. People with high affiliation motivation actively seek social approval, take satisfaction in...
01:28Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences
Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...
02:04Bullying
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is bullying.
01:28Conduct Disorder
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...