Aggression and anger levels in young psychoactive substances abusers
Keywords:
aggression, anger, psychoactive agents, youthAbstract
Aim of the study. The study aimed to assess the level of aggression and anger in young people abusing psychoactive agents.
Material and methods. We examined 100 individuals abusing psychoactive agents. The control group consisted of 301 persons who were not treated because of risky behaviors so far. In this work The Anger Expression Scale (SEG) by N. Ogińska-Bulik and Z. Jurczyński and Psychological Inventory of Aggression Syndrome (IPSA) by Z. Gaś were used.
Results. When assessing the aggression by the use of IPSA, it was stated that comparing to the control group, youth abusing psychoactive agents reached lower results in such categories of aggression syndrome as: emotional (SE) and physical (SF) self aggression, unintended aggression tendencies (NSE), transolcated (APR) and indirect aggression (APO), physical aggression against the surroundings (AF), aggressive behaviors control (K), tendency to the revenge activity (O). Examined group also reached lower results in the scale of aggressive behaviors control, which means that they are able to control the manifestations of their aggression less efficiently. Using the SEG scale to examine the intensity and type of anger the differences between the examined and control groups were stated on intensity of both external and internal anger. Youth in NU group reached higher results in the scale measuring the anger directed to inside.
Discussion. There are many studies showing the role of aggression as a correlate of the personality as well as its presenting in the interpersonal relations. Aggression and anger in young alcohol abusers was proved. Braucht and Cekiera inform about the irritability and explosiveness of young psychoactive substance abusers. Frequent bursts of anger and hostility, both verbal and non-verbal, against the parents and teachers being a part of the personality profi le of the young drug addicts are mentioned by Maxwell. Cekiera and Dimoff and Carper confi rm the hostility and aggression of the substance abusers that is directed to the others and themselves.
Conclusions. Our study confi rms the occurrence of aggression against the others and themselves and the tendency to coexistence of the risky behaviors and socially unaccepted forms of aggression in youth being psychoactive abusers.
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