The relation between empathy and aggression: The role of attachment style
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Lo Cricchio, Maria Grazia
Musso, Pasquale
Lo Coco, Alida
Cassibba, Rosalinda
Liga, Francesca
Abstract / Description
This study aimed to examine the explaining and moderating role of attachment style profiles on the association between empathy and aggression. Participants were 548 Italian adults (M = 47.62 years, SD = 6.14) who completed a survey measuring attachment, empathy, and aggression. Using cluster analytic methods, initial results indicated two attachment style profiles to be considered (secure vs. insecure). However, we also extracted a more theoretically guided four-cluster solution including preoccupied, secure, fearful, and dismissing profiles. Moreover, structural equation modelling showed that higher levels of empathy linked to lower levels of aggression. Nonetheless, when introducing in the model the dichotomous or the multi-categorical attachment style profile variable as predictive of both empathy and aggression, their association became not significant, while secure attachment profile significantly presented higher levels of empathy and lower levels of aggression compared to the other profiles. Furthermore, attachment style profile moderated the link between empathy and aggression. Specifically, in the secure group empathy and aggression were negatively related, but no significant association was evidenced in the other groups. Findings are discussed in the light of the literature.
Keyword(s)
empathy aggression attachment style profile moderationPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2022-08-31
Journal title
Europe's Journal of Psychology
Volume
18
Issue
3
Page numbers
319–336
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Lo Cricchio, M. G., Musso, P., Lo Coco, A., Cassibba, R., & Liga, F. (2022). The relation between empathy and aggression: The role of attachment style. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 18(3), 319-336. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.4509
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ejop.v18i3.4509.pdfAdobe PDF - 1.27MBMD5: 6788b3aa3acca75ecfb1c27431d741a2
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There are no other versions of this object.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Lo Cricchio, Maria Grazia
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Musso, Pasquale
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Lo Coco, Alida
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Cassibba, Rosalinda
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Liga, Francesca
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2022-10-28T10:30:07Z
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Made available on2022-10-28T10:30:07Z
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Date of first publication2022-08-31
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Abstract / DescriptionThis study aimed to examine the explaining and moderating role of attachment style profiles on the association between empathy and aggression. Participants were 548 Italian adults (M = 47.62 years, SD = 6.14) who completed a survey measuring attachment, empathy, and aggression. Using cluster analytic methods, initial results indicated two attachment style profiles to be considered (secure vs. insecure). However, we also extracted a more theoretically guided four-cluster solution including preoccupied, secure, fearful, and dismissing profiles. Moreover, structural equation modelling showed that higher levels of empathy linked to lower levels of aggression. Nonetheless, when introducing in the model the dichotomous or the multi-categorical attachment style profile variable as predictive of both empathy and aggression, their association became not significant, while secure attachment profile significantly presented higher levels of empathy and lower levels of aggression compared to the other profiles. Furthermore, attachment style profile moderated the link between empathy and aggression. Specifically, in the secure group empathy and aggression were negatively related, but no significant association was evidenced in the other groups. Findings are discussed in the light of the literature.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationLo Cricchio, M. G., Musso, P., Lo Coco, A., Cassibba, R., & Liga, F. (2022). The relation between empathy and aggression: The role of attachment style. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 18(3), 319-336. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.4509
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ISSN1841-0413
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/7620
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.8337
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.4509
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.4870
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Is related tohttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.4870
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Keyword(s)empathyen_US
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Keyword(s)aggressionen_US
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Keyword(s)attachment styleen_US
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Keyword(s)profileen_US
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Keyword(s)moderationen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleThe relation between empathy and aggression: The role of attachment styleen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue3
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Journal titleEurope's Journal of Psychology
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Page numbers319–336
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Volume18
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Visible tag(s)Version of Recorden_US