The Role of Risk Taking in explaining the link between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Aggression

Abstract

Aggression is a persistent public concern shaped by cognitive and behavioural vulnerabilities that originate in early development. Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS) represent enduring belief systems formed in childhood that may predispose individuals to aggression, while risk-taking behaviours may function as behavioural pathways through which these cognitive vulnerabilities are outwardly displayed. This study examined the associations between EMS and aggression in a non-clinical adult sample (Age: M = 31.67, SD =11.39) and tested whether risk-tasking mediated these relationships. Using a cross-sectional online survey (n = 213), participants completed the Young Schema Questionnaire – Revised, the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire and Domain Specific Risk-Taking scale. Correlation analyses showed that all EMS were positively associated with aggression. A multiple regression with all 20 schemas identified four significant predictors: entitlement, insufficient self-control, fear of losing control and defectiveness. Mediation analyses demonstrated that risk-taking partially mediated the relationship between each schema and aggression. These findings suggest that EMS function as cognitive vulnerabilities for aggressive behaviour, while risk-taking represents an important behavioural mechanism through which these schemas influence aggression. The results demonstrate the value of examining individual schemas and support the integration of schema theory and risk-taking models in understanding aggression. The study discussed theoretical and practical implications as well as recommendations for future research.