The Influence of Emotion Regulation, Maladaptive Coping, and Criminal Thinking on Maladaptive Behavior
Abstract
Emotion regulation is a cognitive process that occurs due to emotional stimuli in the environment that promotes cognitive or behavioral action to soothe negative emotions. Emotion regulation can affect decision making that promotes maladaptive behavior, similar to criminal thinking. Criminal thinking patterns can be categorized as a form of maladaptive cognitive coping that promotes maladaptive behavior. The association between emotion regulation, criminal thinking, and maladaptive behavior is further explored. A total of (N = 227) MTurk workers participated in a cross-sectional study. Maladaptive emotion regulation and coping predicted willingness to engage in maladaptive behavior. Deficits in emotion regulation were further associated with aggressive behavior, specifically lack of impulse control, emotion suppression, and lack of emotional clarity. Additionally, maladaptive emotion regulation and deficits in emotion regulation were associated with different criminal thinking patterns. The current research supports the hypothesis that emotion regulation influences decision making that promotes maladaptive behavior, and maladaptive cognitive thinking patterns. Interventions should target deficits in emotion regulation to reduce maladaptive behavior.
Subject Area
Clinical psychology|Criminology|Behavioral psychology|Social psychology
Recommended Citation
Avila, Alondra, "The Influence of Emotion Regulation, Maladaptive Coping, and Criminal Thinking on Maladaptive Behavior" (2021). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI28498739.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI28498739