Self-esteem and aggression: the relationships between explicit-implicit self-esteem, narcissism, and reactive-proactive aggression

Binti Amad, Suzana 2015. Self-esteem and aggression: the relationships between explicit-implicit self-esteem, narcissism, and reactive-proactive aggression. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Aggression can be detrimental to both victims and perpetrators. Recent research on the theoretical risks for aggressive behaviours fail to demonstrate consistent links with the human’s evaluation of self-worth, hence the nature of this relationship remains unclear. Specifically, the purpose of the investigation was to examine the differential association between multidimensional self-esteem using both explicit and implicit measures, narcissism, and reactive and proactive aggression across three samples of different cultures and characteristics. Chapter 1 discusses the general background of the study and a brief review of the possible issues that might have contributed to the ambiguous findings on the relationships between self-esteem and aggression. Chapter 2 discusses the theoretical links between self-esteem and aggression, which includes the limitations of self-report assessments (i.e., explicit measures) and how the alternative of indirect assessment tools (i.e., implicit measures) may help to overcome this issue by assessing more automated forms of processes involved in the development of aggressive behaviours. The investigation examines whether the use of the current Single-Target Implicit Association Test (ST-IAT) would provide a greater empirical support for the links between multidimensional self-esteem with reactive and proactive aggression, relative to self-report questionnaires. Chapter 3 describes the evidence surrounding the role of multidimensional self-esteem in different types of aggression in a different culture of similar characteristics, through a replication of the aforementioned investigation. The cross-cultural comparisons were inspected based on the individualistic-collectivistic perspectives. Chapter 4 further explores the relationship of interest by taking into account the content dimensions of self-esteem, namely agency and communion. These dimensions were assessed using both explicit vi and implicit measures on a high-risk population sample within the community. Across each chapter, the current results concerning explicit self-esteem demonstrated consistent evidence to show that low self-esteem is associated with high reactive aggression, whereas narcissism is positively related to aggression, and proactive aggression in particular. Unfortunately, the use of the IAT paradigms in this current investigation did not improve prediction of group membership or estimated risk of aggression. Chapter 5 describes how such findings may be of benefit in unravelling the inconsistency within the self-esteem and aggression relationships. Through further replication and methodological refinement, the current findings could be utilised in support of forensic risk assessment needs within the violence/aggression treatment programmes.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	14 Aug 2023 14:51
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/77062

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