Negative Urgency and Emotion Regulation Strategy Use: Associations with Displaced Aggression

Authors

Jillian Panuzio Scott, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
David DiLillo, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Rosalita C. Maldonado, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Laura E. Watkins, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

SCOTT ET AL. , AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR (2015)

Abstract

The numerous public health consequences of interpersonal aggression highlight the necessity of a comprehensive understanding of factors influencing its perpetration. This study examined direct and interactive associations between negative urgency and emotion regulation strategy use in predicting displaced aggression under conditions of negative mood. Participants were 197 male and female undergraduate students who were randomly assigned to employ either cognitive reappraisal or expressive suppression in response to a negative mood induction. Immediately afterward, participants engaged in an analog displaced aggression task. Results revealed direct, positive associations between negative urgency and aggression. In addition, the use of suppression was associated with greater aggression than was the use of reappraisal alone. Counter to the hypothesis, there were no interactive effects between negative urgency and emotion regulation strategy use in predicting aggression. Findings suggest reducing negative urgency and use of suppression as potential interven-tion targets for individuals who engage in aggressive behavior.