Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz.
Psychol Trauma. 2017 Aug;9(Suppl 1):137-144. doi: 10.1037/tra0000227. Epub 2016 Nov 10.
Traumatic stressors and other forms of adversities, especially when experienced during childhood, shape aggressive behavior. Effects of differential dimensions of impulsivity on the relationship between psychological trauma, reactive aggression (defensive survival response to threat), and appetitive aggression (the pleasure of attacking and fighting) have not yet been assessed.
Using structural equation modeling, we sought to uncover precursors of reactive and appetitive aggression investigating a sample of 94 adult individuals with refugee status. We were interested in direct effects of childhood maltreatment and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and indirect effects via impulsivity dimensions.
For reactive aggression there was a direct link between childhood maltreatment and (a) PTSD symptoms and (b) marginal sensation seeking. Childhood maltreatment and sensation seeking best predicted appetitive aggression. There was no evidence for indirect effects of impulsivity.
Fear-driven response to perceived threat based on inadequate cognitive appraisal is assumed to cause pathological reactive aggression, whereas excessive appetitive aggression can be explained by repeated experiences of thrill and excitement during violent acts. Prevention of early traumatic stress and adversities seems key to breaking the cycle of violence. (PsycINFO Database Record
创伤性应激源和其他形式的逆境，特别是在儿童时期经历的，会塑造攻击行为。冲动的不同维度对心理创伤、反应性攻击（对威胁的防御性生存反应）和欲望性攻击（攻击和战斗的乐趣）之间关系的影响尚未得到评估。
使用结构方程模型，我们试图通过对 94 名具有难民身份的成年人样本进行研究，揭示反应性和欲望性攻击的前因。我们对童年期虐待和创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的直接影响以及冲动维度的间接影响感兴趣。
对于反应性攻击，童年期虐待与（a）创伤后应激障碍症状和（b）边缘感觉寻求之间存在直接联系。童年期虐待和感觉寻求对欲望性攻击的预测最佳。冲动的间接影响没有证据。
基于认知评估不足的对感知威胁的恐惧驱动反应被认为会导致病理性反应性攻击，而过度的欲望性攻击可以通过在暴力行为中反复体验刺激和兴奋来解释。预防早期的创伤性应激和逆境似乎是打破暴力循环的关键。
