TY - JOUR

AU - Hosie, Julia
AU - Dunne, Ashley Lauren
AU - Meyer, Denny
AU - Daffern, Michael
TI - Aggressive script rehearsal in adult offenders: Relationships with emotion
regulation difficulties and aggressive behavior
JO - Aggressive Behavior
JA - Aggressive Behavior
VL - 48
IS - 1
SN - 0096-140X
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.22000
DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.22000
SP - 5
EP - 16
KW - aggression
KW - emotion regulation difficulties
KW - emotion regulation difficulty
KW - scripts
KW - violent offenders
PY - 2022
AB - Abstract This study explored relationships between self-reported emotion
regulation difficulties, frequency of aggressive script rehearsal and aggressive
behavior in 129 adult male inmates. Significant moderate positive correlations were
found between the frequency of aggressive script rehearsal and (1) emotion
regulation difficulties overall, as well as the following dimensions, (2)
difficulties controlling impulses when experiencing negative emotions, and (3)
confidence in the effectiveness of emotion regulation strategies. Significant weak
positive correlations were found between the frequency of aggressive script
rehearsal and two emotion regulation difficulty dimensions, (1) a lack of
understanding of emotional responses, and (2) difficulties in dealing with goal
directed behavior when experiencing uncomfortable emotions. No significant
correlations were found between aggressive behavior and emotion regulation
difficulties, except for a weak positive correlation between aggressive behavior
and difficulties controlling impulses when experiencing negative emotions.
Multivariate analyses were used to assess whether the frequency of aggressive
script rehearsal moderated the effect of emotion regulation difficulties on
aggressive behaviour. Significant improvement in the prediction of aggression
resulted from consideration of the interaction between (1) aggressive script
rehearsal and difficulties in emotional clarity, and (2) aggressive script
rehearsal and awareness of emotional experience, even after accounting for the
influence of age and attitudes toward violence. In conclusion, the results suggest
that the rehearsal of aggressive scripts may function to regulate emotion,
particularly amongst people who are inattentive to their emotions or who have
difficulty understanding their emotional experiences.
ER -