Abstract
The relevance of this study stems from the increasing manifestations of aggressive behaviour among adults in response to rising levels of frustration amid contemporary social instability. The aim of the research was to establish the relationship between the degree of frustration and expressions of aggression in adult residents of Ukraine. The methodological framework comprised quantitative psychodiagnostic tools, including questionnaires, standardised tests, and statistical methods of data analysis. The study was conducted from April to June 2024 and involved 158 participants aged 34-53 from various regions of Ukraine. The findings revealed that 63.3% of respondents exhibited moderate to high levels of frustration, accompanied by pronounced aggressive tendencies. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the “obstacle-dominance” type of frustration response and levels of verbal and indirect aggression. The highest levels of aggression were observed in individuals with elevated anxiety and rigidity, indicating a link between emotional tension and a propensity for aggression. Scores on the guilt scale demonstrated an inverse relationship with the intensity of aggressive behaviour, suggesting a moderating effect. In a separate subsample of 30 individuals, a strong positive correlation (r = 0.68) was observed between frustration indicators and indirect aggression. Among those with heightened irritability, high levels of negativism were recorded, coupled with low guilt scores. These results point to the existence of a complex psycho-emotional profile in which frustration acts as a trigger for aggressive responses. The conclusions affirm that frustration is a key factor influencing both the form and intensity of aggressive behaviour. Moreover, the type of response to frustration determines the specific manifestation of aggression. The practical significance of this study lies in the potential to develop psychological intervention programmes for aggression prevention, tailored to individual frustration levels and dominant response types
Keywords
negativism; hostility; irritability; emotional tension; dominant type of response
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