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Incremental Prediction and Moderating Role of the Perceived Emotional Intelligence over Aggressive Behavior

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2014

María Angeles Peláez-Fernández ,
Natalio Extremera  and
Pablo Fernández-Berrocal
María Angeles Peláez-Fernández*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Málaga (Spain)
Natalio Extremera
Affiliation:
Universidad de Málaga (Spain)
Pablo Fernández-Berrocal
Affiliation:
Universidad de Málaga (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to María Angeles Peláez-Fernández. Dpto. Psicología Social, Antropología Social, Trabajo Social y Servicios Sociales. Facultad de Psicología. Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Teatinos. 29071. Málaga (Spain). Phone: + 34–952133243. Fax: +34–952131100. Email: mapelaez@uma.es
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Abstract

The aim of this research was to explore the influence of Perceived Emotional Intelligence (PEI) on aggression dimensions (Physical Aggression, Verbal Aggression, Hostility, and Anger) above and beyond the effects of gender, age, and personality traits (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness to Experience), as well as the moderating role of PEI on the relationship between personality and aggressive behavior, among young adults. The Trait Meta-Mood Scale, the Big-Five Inventory, and the Aggression Questionnaire were administered to a 313 Spanish community sample, comprised of both males (39.0%) and females (61.0%), ranging from 14 to 69 years old (X = 24.74; SD = 9.27). Controlling the effects of age, gender, and personality, PEI dimensions (Attention, Clarity and Repair) accounted for 3% of the variance (p < .05) in Verbal Aggression and Hostility. Interaction analysis showed that all PEI subscales moderated the relationship between four out of the Big-Five personality dimensions (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, and Openness to Experience) and the aggression dimensions. Particularly, the interaction between Attention and Extraversion and between Clarity and Neuroticism were significant predictors of Total Aggression (b = .67, t(313) = 2.35, p < .05; b = –.71, t(313) = –2.50, p < .05). The results show evidence of the predictive and incremental validity of PEI dimensions on aggressive behavior among young adults and of the moderating role of PEI on the personality-aggression relationship.

Keywords

Perceived emotional intelligenceaggressionTMMSpersonality
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 17 , 2014 , E15
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2014 

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