Alexithymia and reactive aggression: The role of the amygdala

Farah, Theodora; Ling, Shichun; Raine, Adrian; Yang, Yaling; Schug, Robert A.

doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2018.09.003

Cited by 29 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 75 publications

(113 reference statements)

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“…An association between reactive aggression and the amygdala is suggested by structural imaging data showing a positive correlation between reactive aggression and right amygdala volume in a large community sample [21]. Furthermore, smaller amygdala volume [22] and amygdala surface shape deformations [23] were related to elevated aggression in subjects with intermittent explosive disorder (IED), a disorder defined by reactive aggression.…”

Section: Threat Sensitivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Brain Mechanisms of Reactive Aggression

Bertsch

Florange

Herpertz

2020

Curr Psychiatry Rep

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Purpose of Review To review the current literature on biobehavioral mechanisms involved in reactive aggression in a transdiagnostic approach. Recent Findings Aggressive reactions are closely related to activations in the brain’s threat circuitry. They occur in response to social threat that is experienced as inescapable, which, in turn, facilitates angry approach rather than fearful avoidance. Provocation-induced aggression is strongly associated with anger and deficits in cognitive control including emotion regulation and inhibitory control. Furthermore, the brain’s reward system plays a particular role in anger-related, tit-for-tat-like retaliatory aggression in response to frustration. More research is needed to further disentangle specific brain responses to social threat, provocation, and frustration. Summary A better understanding of the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms involved in reactive aggression may pave the way for specific mechanism-based treatments, involving biological or psychotherapeutic approaches or a combination of the two.

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Section: Threat Sensitivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Brain Mechanisms of Reactive Aggression

Bertsch

Florange

Herpertz

2020

Curr Psychiatry Rep

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“…Donahue, Goranson, McClure, & van Male, 2014). As such the absence of cognitive resources necessary to represent, understand and manage distressing emotions accompanied by increased level of negative affect may predispose individuals with elevated alexithymia to aggression (Farah, Ling, Raine, Yang, & Schug, 2018; Velotti et al, 2016).…”

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confidence: 99%

Relationship between Parenting Style, Alexithymia and Aggression in Emerging Adults

McErlean

Lim

2019

Journal of Family Issues

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Alexithymia has been linked to reduced emotional awareness and increased aggression. One line of evidence suggests that authoritarian parenting contributes to the development of alexithymia. To elucidate the relationship between experienced parenting style, alexithymia and aggression the Parental Authority Questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire were administered to a group of emerging adults. Current findings show a positive relationship between: (i) authoritarian parenting style and alexithymia, (ii) alexithymia and aggression, iii) authoritarian parenting style and aggression. This study also found that paternal authoritarian parenting predicted alexithymia and aggression when controlling for maternal authoritarian style, but not the other way round. In addition, alexithymia mediated the relationship between paternal authoritarian parenting and aggression when controlling for maternal authoritarian style suggesting that elevated alexithymia which is likely to be a consequence of authoritarian parenting, especially when it is practiced by a father, contributes to increased aggression in adulthood.

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“…Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown that maltreatment could lead to changes in the amygdala of females [ 68 ]. These changes can result in abnormal activation when adolescents experience adverse life events, leading to reactive aggressive behaviors [ 69 ]. In addition, another study found that childhood maltreatment can lead to dysfunction of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) [ 70 ], while aggressive behavior is closely related to HPA function [ 71 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between schizoid tendencies and aggressive behaviors: mediating and moderating influences in childhood trauma and life events among Chinese adolescents

Yang

Cui

et al. 2021

Ann Gen Psychiatry

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Background This study investigated an association between schizoid tendencies and aggressive behaviors in Chinese adolescents, and explored the underlying mechanism. Methods The data of 3094 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years were collected from an epidemiological survey in China. All the subjects or their parents completed the Achenbach’s Child Behavior Checklist, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, and the Adolescent Self-rating Life Event Checklist (ASLEC). Results Relative to the non-schizoid group, adolescents with schizoid tendencies (male or female) showed significantly higher scores for aggressive behaviors, emotional abuse, and ASLEC. Regarding females only, those with schizoid tendencies had significantly higher (lower) scores for physical abuse and emotional neglect (physical neglect). The aggressive behaviors score was predicted by scores for schizoid tendencies (βmale = 0.620, βfemale = 0.638, both P < 0.001) and ASLEC (βmale = 0.125, βfemale = 0.061, both P < 0.01), and by childhood trauma score (males: emotional neglect [β = 0.045, P = 0.021]; females: emotional abuse and sexual abuse [β = 0.118 and − 0.062, both P < 0.01]). The ASLEC and childhood trauma scores mediated the association between scores for schizoid tendencies and aggressive behaviors, specifically, emotional neglect (emotional abuse and sexual abuse) in males (females). In females, the interaction between scores for childhood trauma and ASLEC affected the aggressive behaviors score (P = 0.023). Conclusions Schizoid tendencies are associated with aggressive behaviors among Chinese adolescents. Recent life events and childhood trauma mediated an association between schizoid tendencies and aggressive behaviors. The interaction between childhood trauma and recent life events affected aggressive behaviors in females. Aggressive behaviors in adolescents may be ameliorated by reducing childhood trauma and life events.

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Alexithymia and reactive aggression: The role of the amygdala

Cited by 29 publications

References 75 publications

Understanding Brain Mechanisms of Reactive Aggression

Understanding Brain Mechanisms of Reactive Aggression

Relationship between Parenting Style, Alexithymia and Aggression in Emerging Adults

Association between schizoid tendencies and aggressive behaviors: mediating and moderating influences in childhood trauma and life events among Chinese adolescents

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