Several factors contribute to aggressive behavior, including difficulties in recognizing the feelings of the target, difficulties in expressing emotions, and prominent experiences of negative emotions. Some aggressors may also exhibit physical symptoms or somatization, which aligns with the characteristics of alexithymia. Theories and descriptions related to individuals with alexithymia often emphasize internal disruptions, associated with behaviors such as dependency and avoidance, including anxiety, depression, non-suicidal self-injury, suicide, autism spectrum disorders, and alcohol abuse. These internal struggles can even lead to physiological and psychological somatic illnesses34,35,36. Existing descriptions of individuals with alexithymia often tend to overlook external behaviors. However, the interconnectedness of internal and external manifestations in individuals is inevitable. Therefore, we hypothesize and confirm a predictive relationship between alexithymia and aggressive behavior. Consistent with previous research37, our findings validate the relationship between alexithymia and aggression while providing new insights. Although the gender factor has been considered in studies on alexithymia, the current research conclusions on the relationship between gender and alexithymia have not yet been consistent. Some studies have shown significant differences in the levels of alexithymia between men and women, while other scholars hold different views38,39. These scholars suggest that one possible reason for the higher rates of alexithymia in men is that they tend to adopt an extroverted thinking style and pay more attention to external factors rather than internal experiences, rather than due to emotional recognition or expression difficulties. In addition, this study found no significant correlation between alexithymia and gender, so gender was not used as a primary variable in the research but rather controlled as a factor.Due to the different manifestations of individuals with alexithymia and aggressive behaviors under varying perceived stress, we integrate perceived stress into our model. Our results indicate that perceived stress serves as a mediating factor in the relationship between alexithymia and aggressive behavior. Consistent with the characteristics of psychological development in university students, the research contributes to the expansion of achievements in this field. Moreover, it provides references for the establishment of a supportive psychological educational environment to reduce the incidence of aggressive behaviors in universities.
Alexithymia exhibits a positive predictive effect on aggressive behavior, a stance supported by previous research suggesting a link between alexithymia and the occurrence of aggressive behavior37.Individuals with high levels of alexithymia often exhibit more anger and higher levels of trait aggression. They may be confused because of their difficulties in recognizing the source, valence, and intensity of emotional experiences. These internal deficits in emotional distress management may lead to higher levels of externalized behavioral problems40. Alexithymia may be a potential mechanism underlying aggression. The General Aggression Model provides a comprehensive theoretical explanation for the relationship between alexithymia and aggressive behavior, emphasizing three key stages in explaining aggressive behavior: person and situational inputs, internal states (cognitive, emotional, physiological arousal, etc.), and the evaluation and decision-making processes41. The second stage, which involves evaluation and decision-making, is closely related to individual emotions42.Deficiencies in emotion perception increase the occurrence of aggressive behavior. Individuals with alexithymia, characterized by deficits in emotion processing, may experience chronic feelings of aggression even in situations that trigger temporary anger43,44. Psychodynamic theory posits that individuals with high levels of alexithymia have deficits in emotion expression and recognition18, leading to a covert state of psychological repression. In an attempt to alleviate psychological repression and seek inner balance, individuals may resort to destructive behaviors such as aggression. An examination of the characteristics of alexithymia reveals difficulties in recognizing emotional experiences and describing feelings. The cognitive and affective components of behavioral sequences are fragmented, which impairs the processing of facial expressions and contextual information. Such impairments affect behavioral goals, management, and monitoring, leading to dysfunctional behavior. This pattern is not only evident in adults but also the development of individuals. Scholars argue that all infants harbor a natural inclination towards hostile explanations and impulsive behavior, but accurate recognition and interpretation of others' mental states can help alleviate malignant situations45. For example, in awkward or provocative situations, individuals can communicate and resolve problems through emotional expression. However, individuals with alexithymia, unable to recognize and express emotions, tend to define them as distress or anger, which increases the likelihood of aggression.Despite the extroverted thinking characteristics exhibited by individuals with alexithymia, their limited ability to recognize emotions and experience emotional anxiety contributes to lower levels of empathy46,which aligns with the characteristics of bullies,explaining why the aggressive behavior of individuals with alexithymia cannot be changed by perceiving the pain of the target47. From a perspective of social interaction, individuals with alexithymia demonstrate deficiencies in emotional expression and low empathy skills in interpersonal interactions46, preventing their establishment of emotional resonance with others and leading to anger or misattribution of emotions. This context also increases the occurrence of aggressive behavior.
The mediating role of perceived stress
Alexithymia exerts its influence on aggressive behavior through the mediating effect of perceived stress. The general stress theory predicts that children exposed to adverse and traumatic experiences have difficulties in perceiving emotional states and identifying positive coping strategies, leading to an overreliance on hostile and aggressive behavior as a coping mechanism48,49. From a longitudinal perspective, the impact is not limited to adulthood but is rooted in early development. Increased exposure to life stressors during early childhood is associated with decreased connectivity between the bilateral amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which in turn increases aggressive behavior. Stress induces physiological changes that affect individual behavior, an association observed in adolescents and adults as well50.The interaction between aggression and stress may be explained by their joint enhancement of electrical activity in specific brain regions, possibly due to the connection of different neural circuits51. Perceived stress serves as a trigger for aggressive behavior, and there is also a link between Alexithymia and perceived stress. The "decoupling hypothesis" proposed by Papciak suggests that individuals with Alexithymia experience a mismatch between physiological arousal and emotional awareness in stress-inducing situations52.Psychophysiological evidence further indicates that Alexithymia may lead to biased perception of stress53,and a decoupling between physiological and subjective responses to stress54,55.
Alexithymia is associated with significantly increased cortisol levels before, during, and after exposure to stress, indicating an increased anticipatory and recovery responses to stress. The role of Alexithymia in perceived stress mainly manifests through physiological arousal56. However, existing literature on Alexithymia and autonomous responses to stress or negative effects presents ambiguity, which suggests a disconnection between subjective stress assessment and autonomous responses among individuals with Alexithymia. In the state of Alexithymia, individuals generate physiological responses that form implicit perceived stress, and the first step in dealing with stress—perceiving and wisely acknowledging its full extent57—remain absent among individuals with Alexithymia, which results in the failure to assess and ineffective stress alleviation.
In this context, the rate and probability of perceived stress response follow a linear behavioral pattern58, resulting in a tendency towards aggression, which indirectly explains the overlapping physiological phenomena of stress and the neural circuits of aggression, supporting the view that perceived stress is essentially a non-specific general adaptation syndrome closely linked to the demands of the internal and external environment59.Perceived stress associated with Alexithymia not only escalates anger and hostility in aggressors but also contributes to the occurrence of different forms of aggression, including physical and verbal aggression.
Limitations
The study has certain limitations owing to certain constraints. Firstly, the primary focus of the study is on Alexithymia and its mechanisms. However, Alexithymia serves as a key cross-diagnostic risk factor based on emotional psychopathology. Individuals at high, medium, and low levels may differ in the types of emotion regulation strategies they typically employ. There are differences in behavioral manifestations among individuals with different levels of expressive language disorders, as well as differences in stress perception and aggression tendencies among different populations, but most studies have not differentiated and controlled for these individual differences. Therefore, the study results may not accurately reflect the relationships between different individuals.
Secondly, the use of cross-sectional research methods to study the impact of perceived stress on the relationship between alexithymia and aggressive behavior cannot fully explain the fluctuations in perceived stress that occur as a result of changes in stressors. Future research can employ experimental methods to more clearly demonstrate causal relationships between variables, by manipulating independent variables. In addition, to enhance the validity of relevant research results, longitudinal studies with long-term follow-up or cross-lag designs can be implemented to more comprehensively explore the process of stress perception and identify key transition points within it.
Thirdly, the study was conducted with Chinese university students. Given that perceived stress and aggressive behavior fall within the domain of social psychology, they are subject to influence from cultural and environmental factors, such as different ways of social interaction in different countries and cultural contexts. Consequently, there is a potential for differences in research conclusions. Cross-cultural studies would greatly enhance the robustness and generalizability of research findings.