Perceived parental psychological control has indirect effects on aggression via need satisfaction and motivation for revenge

Abstract

We examined the relationship of perceived parental psychological control (PPC) to aggression and whether this relationship could be accounted for by indirect effects through need satisfaction and motivation for revenge. In our mediation models with need satisfaction, perceived PPC consistently shows indirect effects on aggression via the relatedness component of need satisfaction in all models, but not via the autonomy and competence components. Further, in a mediation model with vengeance only, psychologically controlled children reported greater motivation for revenge, which then predicted more aggression. In path models with the three needs and vengeance added in the later step, indirect effects through first thwarted need satisfaction and vengeance are significant, and the indirect effect via relatedness is most consistently significant. The results suggest that perceived PPC thwarts need satisfaction and motivates people to yearn for revenge, which facilitates aggression. Our findings can shed light on the mechanisms through which PPC facilitates aggression.

Parental psychological control perceived in adolescence predicts jealousy toward romantic partners in emerging adulthood via insecure attachment

“…The gender of the adolescent did not make a difference in any of the paths that we tested. Our results are consistent with the previous results on PPC and personality development that did not show any differences by the gender of the adolescents (e.g., Choe et al., 2019, 2020; Choe & Read, 2019), suggesting that PPC may be detrimental to adolescents regardless of their gender (Choe et al., 2019; Choe & Read, 2019).…”

“…Given the importance of emerging adulthood in romantic relationships (Arnett, 2006; Fincham & Cui, 2010; Shulman & Connolly, 2013), poor relationship quality in emerging adulthood from PPC perceived in adolescence can add more stress and possibly lead to frustrated relational needs during their later developmental stages. Our results add to the recent literature that has emphasized that PPC thwarts relational needs (Choe et al., 2020; Choe & Read, 2019; Soenens & Vansteenkiste, 2010), which were claimed to be fundamental to everyone (Ryan & Deci, 2000), and future research on PPC can benefit from investigating its relationship outcomes.…”

“…PPC itself hampers healthy development of children, and the impact of PPC may matter more than which parent adopts PPC. PPC has been conceptualized as disrespectful and harmful parenting practices regardless of the gender of the parents (Barber et al., 2012; Choe et al., 2019; Choe & Read, 2019; Soenens & Vansteenkiste, 2010), and our results add to the literature that PPC is pernicious to adolescent development. Moreover, our results buttress the emerging body of research on fathering, showing that fathers contribute to children's personality and emotion development as well (Cabrera et al., 2018; Lamb, 1975; Parke, 2002; Sarkadi et al., 2008).…”

“…Experiencing jealousy entails low relationship satisfaction and poor relationship quality (Dandurand & Lafontaine, 2014), as jealous individuals may spend their time and energy to question their romantic partners and remove threats such as rivals (Mathes & Severa, 1981) rather than spending quality time with their romantic partners. In other words, on top of experiencing invalidating and ungratifying relationships during adolescence with their psychologically controlling parents (Choe & Read, 2019), adolescents who grew up with psychologically controlling parents may not have satisfying relationships with their significant others in their emerging adulthood (Choe et al., 2020; Díez et al., 2019; Parise et al., 2017). Given the importance of emerging adulthood in romantic relationships (Arnett, 2006; Fincham & Cui, 2010; Shulman & Connolly, 2013), poor relationship quality in emerging adulthood from PPC perceived in adolescence can add more stress and possibly lead to frustrated relational needs during their later developmental stages.…”

“…Parental psychological control (PPC) refers to a set of intrusive parenting techniques that emotionally manipulate children to obey their parents (Choe & Read, 2019). Intrusiveness and emotional manipulation differentiate PPC from other parenting constructs (Choe et al., 2019).…”