The Role of Negative Affects and Emotion Dysregulation in Aggression

Emotion dysregulation, negative effects, and aggression can affect each other. This study aimed to demonstrate the role of the negative effects and emotion dysregulation in aggression. The statistical population was Kharazmi University students that 280 of them were selected by random multiphasic sampling method. The study instruments were Buss-Perry aggression questionnaire, the short form of cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire and positive affect and negative affect scale. The Pearson correlation, Student t test, and hierarchical regression tests were used to analyse the data. Gender, negative affect and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (rumination, catastrophizing, and others blaming) were correlated with aggression. After controlling for gender and negative affect, maladaptive emotion regulation explained only 0.029% of the aggression variance and in this case and negative affect could explain 11.4% of its variance. Furthermore, by controlling for gender and negative affect, others blaming and catastrophizing strategies could explain 0.077% of the aggression variance. This study demonstrates the more important role of negative affect in predicting aggression. It seems that efficient methods to improve mood state can be helpful in aggression reduction.