A study of the relationships between rumination, anger rumination, aggressive script rehearsal, and aggressive behavior in a sample of incarcerated adult males

Abstract

Objective: This study explored relationships between aggressive script rehearsal, rumination, and anger rumination with aggressive behavior. Method: One hundred and twenty-nine incarcerated males (M = 33.54, SD = 8.67) completed the Schedule of Imagined Violence, Preservative Thinking Questionnaire, Anger Rumination Scale, and the Life History of Aggression-Aggression subscale. Correlations were run to examine associations between the variables and a four-step sequential multiple regression was performed to assess for the unique contribution of rumination, anger rumination, and aggressive script rehearsal to aggressive behavior.Results: Results revealed moderate-strong positive associations between aggressive script rehearsal, rumination, and anger rumination. Moderate-weak associations were found between these three constructs and aggressive behavior. Regression analyses revealed aggressive script rehearsal was uniquely related with aggressive behavior and path analysis demonstrated aggressive script rehearsal

A critical analysis of stalking theory and implications for research and practice

“…While not a central component of Birch and colleagues' approach, they do suggest that effective regulation of affect arising from activation of knowledge structures may be a key part of preventing impulsive acts of stalking. Broadly, the information processing approach is also consistent with the tenets of RGP theory, with its focus on goal‐directed behaviour and self‐regulation, while the concept of behavioural script rehearsal has considerable overlap with rumination and fantasy (though the constructs also have some important differences; Gilbert & Daffern, 2017 ; Hosie et al., 2022 ).…”

Exploring predictors of aggressive intrusive thoughts and aggressive scripts: Similarities and differences in phenomenology

“…Participants rated their responses to this item on a 7‐point Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 7 (several times a day). This item has been used in prior research to measure the frequency of one's aggressive script rehearsal (Daff et al, 2015 ; Hosie et al, 2022 ; Podubinski et al, 2017 ).…”

“…These beliefs include attitudes that endorse aggressive behavior (e.g., “Sometimes you have to fight to keep your self‐respect”; Mills et al, 2002 ; p. 249), and these beliefs have been found to associate with aggressive scripts rehearsal and aggressive behavior, and are common in some offender populations (Gilbert & Daffern, 2017 ; Huesmann, 1988 ; Kelty et al, 2011 ). Further, alternative cognitive models, such as the Multiple Systems Model (Denson ( 2013 ), propose that understanding how and why individuals engage in “angry rumination” (a related but not synonymous construct; Hosie et al, 2022 ) may identify the precipitants of aggressive behavior (Denson, 2013 ). As emphasized by Hosie et al ( 2022 ), anger rumination is concerned with perseverative thinking over experiences of anger, which may also include ruminations regarding past provocations.…”

“…Further, alternative cognitive models, such as the Multiple Systems Model (Denson ( 2013 ), propose that understanding how and why individuals engage in “angry rumination” (a related but not synonymous construct; Hosie et al, 2022 ) may identify the precipitants of aggressive behavior (Denson, 2013 ). As emphasized by Hosie et al ( 2022 ), anger rumination is concerned with perseverative thinking over experiences of anger, which may also include ruminations regarding past provocations. However, Hosie et al ( 2022 ) argue that anger rumination that includes thoughts of retaliation (i.e., one preparedness and plans for revenge) is synonymous with some aggressive scripts (although some other aggressive scripts are rehearsed outside of the context of angry rumination, for instance, in a more pleasurable planful state).…”

“…As emphasized by Hosie et al ( 2022 ), anger rumination is concerned with perseverative thinking over experiences of anger, which may also include ruminations regarding past provocations. However, Hosie et al ( 2022 ) argue that anger rumination that includes thoughts of retaliation (i.e., one preparedness and plans for revenge) is synonymous with some aggressive scripts (although some other aggressive scripts are rehearsed outside of the context of angry rumination, for instance, in a more pleasurable planful state).…”