The Role of Alexithymia and Cognitive Emotion Regulation in the Development of Aggressive Behavior in Adolescents

Abstract

The article discusses the role of cognitive emotion regulation (ER) as well as of individual alexithymic traits in the emergence of adolescents’ aggressive behavior. It is assumed that alexithymic traits cause aggression by developing maladaptive ER. 142 adolescents aged 12–17 were examined in order to study this mechanism, such questionnaires as Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), the Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children and the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) were used as research methods. It has been discovered that the use of maladaptive ER strategies is a significant factor in the development of aggressive behavior. It was confirmed that the reduced ability to identify one’s feelings is associated with the risk of developing maladaptive ER strategies, which in its turn enhances aggression. An inclination to catastrophize and ruminate, experiencing stressful events acutely and continuously, as well as showing hostility are the traits of a teenager’s character which can be considered as predisposing to aggressive behavior. These features of dysfunctional ER can serve as targets in psychotherapeutic work and they should also be paid special attention to while conducting psycho-prophylaxis of aggressive behavior with adolescents.