Emotional Intelligence, Anxiety and Aggression as Predictors of Destructive Behaviour and Offences of Teenagers

Abstract

The results of research on emotional intelligence and personal characteristics of teenagers under suspended sentence are considered in the article. The purpose of research: studying of emotional intelligence level and comparison of aggression and anxiety between teenagers under suspended sentence and law-abiding teenagers. Methods of research: Bass-Darki test (BDI)-for evaluation of aggression and animosity; questionnaire of Spielberger-Khanin (STАI) for evaluation of situational and personal anxiety; EIS test (Hall)-for studying emotional intelligence level. It is shown, that the comparative analysis has revealed authentic distinctions of all parameters using EIS technique, parameters of situational and personal anxiety using STAI technique, indirect aggression and feeling of fault using BDI questionnaire among teenagers under suspended sentence and law-abiding teenagers. The correlation analysis revealed that the more aggressive a teenager under suspended sentence is, the lower his/her emotional intelligence, self-motivation and emotional awareness are, and as a result, the worse he/she distinguishes emotions of other people. The revealed significant interrelations between personal characteristics, emotional intelligence and aggression have shown that it is possible to control animosity and aggression of teenagers under suspended sentence if their self-motivation and emotional awareness are raised. The psychological status of teenagers under suspended sentence shows directions for psych corrective work with them which should include, besides individual consultations, group work to decrease aggression, situational and personal anxiety and, what is the most important, to form emotional competence.

Psychiatric and non-psychiatric population vulnerabilities in time of a crisis: the unsuspected aggression factor

“…For HADS-A, the only common predictive factor in all three groups’ regressions was aggression. Some previous studies have noted the role of aggression in affecting stress and anxiety levels [ 57 - 60 ]. Research has also demonstrated that depression and suicidality are related to aggression [ 61 - 63 ].…”