Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology MJCP

Different studies show the relationship between deficit in mentalization, emotion dysregulation and aggressiveness noting emotion dysregulation is associated with increased aggression (Cohn et al., 2010; McLaughin et al., 2011; Roll et al., 2012; Tager et al., 2010; Tull et al., 2007). Moreover other studies underline the importance of emotion dysregulation in the relationship between aggression and alexithymia (Bekker et al.; 2007; Bréjard et al., 2008; Cristofer et al., 2009; Fossati et al., 2009; Lambie et al., 2002; Rieffe et al., 2010). The present study aims to examine the relationship between alexithymia and the different forms of aggression. This study involved 223 men: 98 offenders recruited from penitentiary institutes in Lazio (Italy) and 125 control subjects. The Aggression Questionnaire (AQ; Buss e Perry, 1992) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 items (TAS-20; Taylor et al., 1985) were completed. The results were then analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation. A greater presence of Verbal Aggression in the control group (p=.013) and Hostility in the offender group (p=.012) were evidenced, no further significant difference was founded. Considering the offender group a significant relation between alexithymia and aggression (r=.492) was found. Alexithymia was correlated with Hostility (r=.515), Anger (r=.459) and Physical Aggression (r=.408) subscales. Considering the control group a significant relation between alexithymia and aggression (r=.369) was found. Alexithymia was correlated with Hostility (r=.371), Anger (r=.332) and Physical Aggression (r=.328) subscales. In both groups, Verbal Aggression subscale wasn't correlated with any results obtained in the TAS-20 (p>.05). The findings of this study show how the verbal manifestation of aggression isn't involved with the capacity to identify, discriminate and verbalize feelings. Furthermore our results confirm precedent findings about the relationship between alexithymia and aggressiveness and highlight how could be useful an emotion-based treatment in offender population.